Packers first-round pick known as 'Hercules'

Lukas Van Ness Joseph Cress / USA TODAY NETWORK

New Packers EDGE Lukas Van Ness known as 'Hercules'

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 4/28/23

Achilles had his heel to worry about, but Hercules? By all accounts Hercules was awesome. He was big, strong, powerful and unstoppable.

That's the type of player the Green Bay Packers are hoping they're getting in 13th overall pick Lukas Van Ness, the edge rusher from Iowa. They drafted him to be big, strong, and unstoppable.

In fact, general manager Brian Gutekunst used almost those exact descriptors to describe his first-round pick. He reportedly called Van Ness big, powerful, fast and explosive.

Van Ness fits the bill, too.

He's 6-foot-5, 272 pounds, and absolutely jacked. So jacked, in fact, that he earned the nickname "Hercules" during his two seasons at Iowa.

Lukas Van Ness looks like a monster... pic.twitter.com/2l0ikLNukn
— Ken Ingalls - Packers Cap (@KenIngalls) April 28, 2023

Looking the part is one thing. Almost anyone can step off the team bus first. The Packers need Van Ness to play the part as well.

It is worth noting that Van Ness has the traits to be an impact player from day one. He's big enough to play 3-4 defensive end but he has the athleticism to be an off-ball linebacker in space. He also ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

Despite having zero starts at Iowa -- non-seniors do not start for the Hawkeyes -- Van Ness has also displayed ample pass-rushing ability. He snagged seven sacks in 2021 and followed that tally up with 6.5 in 2022. Throw in 69 total tackles over the past two seasons and the Packers just might have themselves a defender who can step in without missing a beat.

Gutekunst certainly thinks that's the case.

"I do think he's going to play right away, and he'll help us right away," Gutekunst told the Green Bay media. "There's so much technique to that to be able to win in this league. It all takes them a little bit of time. But I would expect him to be able to help us this year."

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