An objective for Brian Gutekunst during the 2023 NFL draft was to find Rashan Gary a long-term running mate. Gutekunst got his guy by selecting Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick.
“Really excited about it,” Gutekunst said. “Big man, powerful, fast, explosive…We’re really excited to get him.”
Nicknamed Hercules, Van Ness is chiseled. The Iowa edge rusher is a power-packed edge and owns a devastating bull rush. He utilizes his long arms to get into the chest of blockers and converts speed to power to drive them backward.
To go along with all that raw power, Van Ness has a quick first step (1.57 10-yard split). Once he wins the corner he shows outstanding closing burst to the quarterback.
Despite never starting a game for the Hawkeyes, Van Ness recorded 74 pressures to go along with 13 sacks over the past two seasons. Van Ness won’t turn 22 until July and Gutekunst believes there is a ton of upside inside that 6-5, 272-pound frame.
“I think there is a lot of growth to his game,” Gutekunst said. “The physical traits are there for him to grow…His versatility to win outside with speed and to win inside with power. I think there is so much in front of him.”
With the 13th pick in the 2023 #NFLDraft, the #Packers select Iowa LB Lukas Van Ness!#PackersDraft | @meijer pic.twitter.com/rxng9Rjna1
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 28, 2023
With his build and power, Van Ness could be a player that Joe Barry moves around the front seven as the Packers look to generate more pressure on the quarterback this season.
“He’s a very versatile player,” Gutekunst said. “That’s very important to us. He’s a different player than Z, but I think he’s going to do a lot of the same things. We used to move Z inside…I think his best football is ahead of him. I think he’s a guy that can move inside and out.”
Van Ness sets the edge and is powerful at the point of attack. He plays with a motor that runs hot. He’s quick to find the football and has the quickness to chase down ball carriers from the backside.
Van Ness played 109 snaps on special teams this past season for the Hawkeyes and was named Big 10 Special Teams Player of the Week after he blocked two punts against Iowa State.
Green Bay’s pass rush needed a much-needed jolt. Van Ness checked all the boxes for the Packers. With his length, power, athleticism, and age, Van Ness possesses everything that the Packers are looking for in their edge rushers.
“He was one of the premier edge rushers in this class. We saw him at the combine and that was very impressive. I was at the Iowa pro day…The character of the guy really checked out…He’s a fit here. He’s a worker, it’s really important to him.”
Van Ness didn’t start a game at Iowa. During his rookie season, he likely won’t be a starter. Instead, he’ll carve out a role playing in a rotation with Gary and Preston Smith.
“I do think he is going to play right away,” Gutekunst said. “I’d expect him to be out there helping us this year.”
Even before Gary suffered a season-ending injury, Green Bay’s pass rush lacked juice last season. According to PFF, the Packers generated just 256 pressures. Van Ness may not see the field as a starter during his rookie season, but he’ll help the Packers get more pressure on the quarterback.
