Given how the first wave of free agency has come and gone, it would be pretty shocking if the Green Bay Packers failed to take an edge rusher in April’s draft. They also need another strong contributor and depth at the position.
Regardless of what direction the Packers go with the position, Lukas Van Ness will have a lot to say about Green Bay’s defensive success.
We all know the narrative that has developed around Van Ness over two seasons. The Packers took him with the 13th-overall pick in 2023, and to say he has underwhelmed so far would be an understatement. Optimists thought he would be the next big name at edge rusher despite not starting a single game in college at Iowa.
Instead, as 2024 came to an end, Van Ness was nearly in an even split with Brenton Cox Jr. for snaps; Kingsley Enagbare and Rashan Gary out-snapped both of them.
What’s alarming about the timeshare with Cox is that the Packers healthy-scratched him for the first 10 games of the season until they traded Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cox produced more sacks and quarterback hits in only seven games than Van Ness did in 17.
It’s great news if you’re heavily leveraged in Brenton Cox Jr. stock. It’s not so great for Van Ness or the Packers, who spent a premium pick to get him. Still, Van Ness has the athleticism and the motor to succeed. He just hasn’t put it on display often enough.
Brian Gutekunst is putting a lot of eggs into that basket in 2025. When he noted that the Packers must become more efficient rushing four defenders, he said Van Ness was “a big part of that.”
He’s right. At least about the first part.
According to ESPN, the Packers ranked No. 26 in pass-rush win rate and didn’t have a single player either on the edge or on the interior of the line in the top 20.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme significantly relies on getting home by bringing just four. Green Bay seldom blitzes compared to the rest of the league; the Packers were No. 31 in blitz percentage in 2024.
How do they fix that?
Well, Green Bay hasn’t addressed it in free agency, so the draft is the primary factor. Still, Gutekunst is expecting Van Ness to take a leap, and he hasn’t shown anything to suggest a Year 3 jump is in store.
He does everything he can. He is everything you want in a professional as far as his work ethic and what he puts into it, and I expect him to take a big jump this year.
Van Ness checks so many of the boxes for a pass rusher. He has the frame; there’s no questioning that or his athleticism. He constantly pushes forward in an effort to win his assignment. Gutekunst highlighted Van Ness’ work ethic, a must-have for a player who has already experienced frustrations through his first two seasons.
For one reason or another, though, Van Ness hasn’t pieced it together.
Still, giving up on him at this point would be foolish. In a league where there isn’t much wiggle room for error, teams seem to move on from quarterbacks at a fast rate if there aren’t instant results. Thankfully, Van Ness isn’t a quarterback, so he’ll get a little more grace.
Grace is one thing, but the Packers seem confident in relying on Van Ness to be a constant contributor at defensive end in 2025. However, he hasn’t shown the capability to do that, even in spurts.
Granted, Green Bay’s defense has a lot in place. Their safety play is phenomenal. The cornerback room should get a boost with the signing of Nate Hobbs. Inside linebacker Quay Walker really found his groove in 2024, and Edgerrin Cooper is a budding star.
Defensive end is the one spot that still leaves a lot to be desired. And now, even if they take an edge rusher early in the draft, everything about their history of player development suggests the Packers would gradually ease that player into a starting role rather than making them an immediate part of the game plan. Rashan Gary and Van Ness himself are examples of that.
Green Bay has much of its defense in a great spot entering 2025. The biggest questions remain at the edge. All indications are that they will rely on Van Ness to carry that burden. It’s a big bet. Whether or not it pays off will significantly influence the defense’s success.
