When the Green Bay Packers selected Lukas Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they understood he would need time to grow. However, the Packers will eventually require steady performance.
Green Bay rarely picks in the top fifteen. Van Ness, picked 13th overall, was the Packers’ highest draft pick since Rashan Gary, who was selected 12th in 2019. Van Ness and Gary are the only top-15 picks in the team’s previous 15 draft classes. Fifteen.
Gary took his time to realize his full ability, and the Packers believe Van Ness can do the same someday.
But they must see symptoms of it soon. They passed up the opportunity to choose cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who is swiftly emerging as a star for the New England Patriots.
It’s still too early to give up on Van Ness, but his performance this season has been disappointing, to say the least.
The Packers are struggling with Lukas Van Ness’ lack of output.
Wendell Ferreira of A to Z Sports reported that Van Ness had only four pressures this season. Not in sacks. Pressures. He has one sack from the Packers’ eight-sack outburst against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3.
Is it time to be worried? Many Packers fans and analysts think so, which is why we’re seeing tweets like this. And it’s difficult to disagree.
We may argue about how the Packers cheated the New York Jets in the Aaron Rodgers trade (which they did), but the Jets made a far superior first-round pick. The deal included a first-round pick swap, with Green Bay moving up two spots. New York selected edge rusher Will McDonald with the 15th overall pick in 2024, and he has eight sacks and 26 total pressures. Van Ness has a single sack and four pressures.
Van Ness has a PFF grade of 46.5, ranking 160th out of 183 edge defenders.
The Packers need more. Many more.
Fortunately, they are receiving output from the remainder of their 2023 draft class. Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft have made important contributions on offence, Dontayvion Wicks has demonstrated Pro Bowl ability, and Luke Musgrave still has a lot of upside. He simply needs to stay healthy. With Karl Brooks and Carrington Valentine, the Packers hit a home run.
But pressure is mounting on Van Ness. He has not started a game for the Packers and has played less snaps than Kingsley Enagbare this season. With Preston Smith rumoured to be on the trade block, can Van Ness step up and fill the vacuum if the Packers decide to part ways with the veteran pass rusher?
Even if they don’t deal Smith, Van Ness is expected to be the future. You do not choose someone 13th overall unless you believe they will be a crucial starter.
Van Ness is just 24 games into his NFL career. There is yet time. However, he is battling to create a consistent impact, and potential must eventually translate into production. It may be too early to panic, but his performances are concerning.
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