The Green Bay Packers have a difficult decision to make this offseason regarding edge rusher Lukas Van Ness. GM Brian Gutekunst must decide whether to exercise the team’s fifth year option on the former first-round pick out of Iowa which would kick in for the 2027 season. But has Van Ness done enough to justify the Packers picking up his option or even a new contract extension?
The Packers Have a Tough Decision on Lukas Van Ness: Van Ness So Far
The Packers knew Van Ness would be a project when they selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Van Ness earned the nickname “Hercules” for his size and athleticism. However, he needed to work on his technique and to rely less on his pure athletic ability to succeed in the NFL.
Van Ness failed to start any games in his first two seasons. Instead, he played as part of the edge rush rotation. As a rookie, he recorded four sacks and 32 total tackles including eight tackles for loss. Van Ness played 33 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
In his second season, the Iowa product again played all 17 games but didn’t start any. He recorded three sacks and 33 tackles including six tackles for loss. His playing time went up slightly to 39 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
Last season, injuries limited Van Ness to just nine games. He started two of them, his first career NFL starts. Van Ness recorded 1.5 sacks, 19 total tackles and three tackles for loss while playing 45 percent of the defensive snaps in the games he played. Van Ness improved his play against the run and seemed to improve his pass rushing technique.
The Cost of the Option
The expected cost of signing Van Ness to a fifth-year option would be approximately $15.4 million. The contract would be a one-year deal, fully guaranteed with no signing bonus.
Gutekunst addressed the decision to reporters at the scouting combine. “It’s about what we think he’s going to do in the future, not what he’s done in the past,” Gutekunst explained. “So, that’s kind of how we look at things. We did that with Devonte [Wyatt] last year. If that’s the decision we decide to do, I won’t have a problem with that at all.”
Ultimately, Gutekunst has to make his decision by early May. The Packers also could sign Van Ness to a long-term extension that could reduce the 2027 cap hit since it would include multiple years and a pro-rated signing bonus.
Van Ness turns 25 in July and should be entering the prime of his career right about now.
The Packers Have a Tough Decision on Lukas Van Ness: Looking Ahead
Van Ness enters the 2025 training camp as one of the team’s starters on the edge. Rashan Gary has been traded to the Cowboys and won’t be back with the team. The other presumptive starter, Micah Parsons, isn’t expected to be ready to play in Week 1 as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL he suffered last December. He very likely will miss the first three or four games. When he returns, Parsons will likely be on a play count for a few additional games. That means Van Ness will likely be the veteran edge rusher in the lineup for the first five plus games of the season.
Van Ness must also adjust to the new Packers defense under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Pack will be converting to a 3-4 base defense after playing a 4-3 base for the last two seasons under Jeff Hafley. That means Van Ness could return to outside linebacker, the position he played in his rookie season in Green Bay.
Van Ness possesses some versatility here that could help the Packers. He could line up at outside linebacker in base and possibly move inside and rush the passer as a defensive tackle or lineman in obvious passing situations. That would give Gannon some flexibility.
Ultimately, Gutekunst needs a strong start from Van Ness in 2026. But first he has to decide whether to sign him to a new contract. We will know more by May. Then it will be up to Van Ness to show Gutekunst’s faith was justified.
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