The Will Be a Critical Season for Packers DE Lukas Van Ness

When the Green Bay Packers selected Lukas Van Ness with the 13^th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they knew he would be a bit of a project. The Iowa alum had all the physical tools to excel in the NFL. The man they nicknamed “Hercules” for his size and athleticism needed to work on his technique and develop counter moves to take his game to the next level. Van Ness will now enter his third season in the NFL in 2025. This will be a critical season for Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness and his development as a pro.

This Will Be a Critical Season for Packers DE Lukas Van Ness: His Career Thus Far

Van Ness played all 17 games as a rookie with the Packers. He did not start but made himself a part of the edge rushing rotation. Van Ness made 32 total tackles including eight tackles for loss. He also recorded four sacks and 10 quarterback hits while playing 33 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

In 2024, Van Ness again played all 17 games but did not start any. He moved from outside linebacker to defensive end as the Packers transitioned to a four-man front under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Van Ness improved his play against the run in his second NFL campaign, but did not take a big jump as a pass rusher. He fell to three sacks and made 33 tackles including six tackles for loss. His quarterback hits fell from 10 to six.

Injuries Hurt Van Ness in 2024

At OTAs, Van Ness revealed he played most of the season with a broken thumb that forced him to line up on just one side of the field. It also hampered his ability to use one arm to fend off blockers and make plays.

Van Ness did not start any games in 2024. When the Packers traded Preston Smith at the NFL trade deadline, many people expected Van Ness to step in and start. Instead, Kingsley Enagbare took over as the starter opposite Rashan Gary while Van Ness remained part of the rotation. He played 39 percent of the defensive snaps last season, up from 33 percent in his rookie campaign.

This Will Be a Critical Season for Packers DE Lukas Van Ness: Looking Ahead

Van Ness showed up at OTAs fully healthy and ready for the new season. Head coach Matt LaFleur noticed a difference in the way he looked on the field over the last few weeks.

“I just think there’s a difference in confidence level with him,” LaFleur told reporters. “And I think the group as a whole, just our ability to get off the football, we’ve spent a lot of time on that. Those guys have taken the coaching and embraced it and have really worked at it.”

Van Ness lined up with the first-string defense during OTAs. That means he should get a chance to win the starting position if he has a strong training camp and plays well in the preseason.

The coaching staff also talked about the possibility of having Van Ness line up at defensive tackle sometimes in obvious passing situations. That would allow the Packers to get more pass rushers on the field at the same time. Van Ness did take snaps at defensive tackle in college, so he is familiar with the position. It could also present him with some additional opportunities to get on the field and to utilize different techniques and skills that he has been working on.

Year three is a critical one for NFL players. If a former first-round pick fails to start producing after three seasons, the dreaded “B-word” (bust) begins to be thrown around.

The Packers knew Van Ness needed time to reach his potential when they drafted him. This season, they hope to begin to reap the dividends of their investment and see “Hercules” develop into a quality starting defensive lineman.