LV #90

Lukas Van Ness

Defensive End · Iowa

Green Bay's 2023 first-round edge rusher who never started a game at Iowa but was drafted 13th overall on pure upside.

Lukas Van Ness entered the league as one of the more unusual first-round bets in recent memory, a highly athletic edge rusher who never even started a game at Iowa. Three seasons into his Packers career, his pass-rush production has steadily climbed even as sack totals have lagged behind his underlying performance.

★ First-round pick, 13th overall, in the 2023 NFL Draft

★ First Iowa defensive player ever drafted in the first round by Green Bay

★ Career-high pressure rate in 2025 despite missing eight games to injury

Path to the league

Van Ness played his entire college career at Iowa without ever starting a game, but his elite size, strength and athleticism made him a coveted prospect anyway. The Packers selected him 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, making him the first defensive player from Iowa that Green Bay had ever taken in the first round.

Career highlights

Van Ness has developed steadily as a pass rusher, improving his pressure numbers in each of his first three NFL seasons. His pass-rush win rate and pressure totals have outpaced his sack production, a common developmental pattern for young edge rushers still refining their finishing ability.

2025 season recap

Van Ness missed eight games in 2025 due to a foot injury but showed clear growth when on the field, finishing with 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. He generated 27 pressures on just 178 pass-rush snaps, more than in either of his first two seasons, and earned a 75.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.