Latest news with #LukasVanNess
Forbes
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Packers Draft By Position: Green Bay Could Take A Defensive End Early
The NFL Draft begins April 24 and the Green Bay Packers have the 23rd pick in the first round. Between now and then, I'll examine Green Bay's current situation at each position and how likely the Packers are to take a player for that group. Today, we'll look at the defensive ends. By now, you know what seventh-year man Rashan Gary is. A try-hard player who's a bridesmaid far more than the bride. Gary traditionally ranks among the league-leaders in pressures. In 90 career games, though, he has just 39.0 sacks — one sack every 2.31 contests. The bottom line is he just doesn't finish enough. Lukas Van Ness, the Packers' first round pick in 2023, had just three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss last year. He now faces a critical Year 3. Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox add depth. The Packers need a difference-maker here, and there will be some intriguing — but risky — options at pick No. 23 to add to their mediocre group. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Lukas Van Ness: 'We talked a little bit about we need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players, and Lukas is a big part of that. He does everything he can. He's everything you want in a professional as far as his work ethic and what he puts into it, and I expect him to take a big jump this year.' Van Ness on Green Bay's defensive ends: 'I think we have a great group. Whether we take two guys (or) we take nobody, I think we're all going to come to work every day, we're going to compete against each other for our spots, and we're going to work hard. I love the guys we have in our room. I think we're all hard-working, we love the game of football, and I'm excited to see what we can do together.' Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley: 'I mean I want all these guys to have production. I mean, that's like, the two things that I told you guys about, the only thing, like tackles for loss, the numbers, they are what they are. Sacks, the numbers, truthfully, they are what they are. You want to look at yards, you want to look at this, like all that's great, I just want to win and I want each player to have as much success as they can because I want to help them and their futures and I want them to have success. Like those are the things that are important to me.' Penn State's Abdul Carter and Georgia's Jalon Walker are two edge rushers that will be long gone by the time Green Bay selects. Here are five players, though, the Packers could take in Rounds 1 or 2. • Mykel Williams, Georgia (6-5, 267) — Strong, long-armed (34' 3/8') player who's an ideal fit in Green Bay's 4-3 scheme. Production at Georgia (67 tackles, 14 sacks in three years) doesn't match his physical gifts. Played through ankle injury in 2024. Explosive athlete with terrific length and big hands (10 ¼'). Projection: Round 1 • Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M (6-5, 270) — Classic boom or bust pick. Had a fantastic Combine where he shined in the 40-yard dash (4.58), posted a 40-inch vertical and led the group with a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches. Production doesn't match physical gifts, though, as he had just 4.5 sacks in three seasons with the Aggies. Can be disruptive in both phases, but hasn't come close to putting it all together. Projection: Round 1 • Mike Green, Marshall (6-3, 248) — Had a breakout 2024 campaign when he led the nation with 17 sacks. Also led the FBS with 22.5 tackles for loss. The problem is his first three seasons were completely non-descript. His 28 reps on the bench press were No. 1 among the group. Has had two allegations of sexual assault against him, denying both. Dismissed from the team at Virginia after playing his first two seasons for the Cavaliers. Might be a tough fit in Green Bay's 4-3. Projection: Rounds 1-2. • James Pearce, Tennessee (6-5, 248) — Explosive player who ran a blazing 4.48 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Had 17.5 sacks over the last two seasons, including 10.0 in 2023. Many questions about his character. Best fit might be in a 3-4. Probably not heavy enough to play the run in a 4-3 scheme. Projection: Round 1-2 • Donovan Ezeiruaka, Boston College (6-2 ½, 248) — Played for current Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in college. Had a whopping 16.5 sacks last season. Would have to get bigger to play in Green Bay's 4-3 scheme. Impressive short shuttle time (4.19) at the NFL Combine, which was No. 1 among all edge rushers. Projection: Round 2. Part 1 — Quarterbacks Part 2 — Wide Receivers Part 3 — Running backs Part 4 — Tight ends Part 5 — Offensive line
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Healthy, Healed Van Ness Hoping For Breakout Season With Packers
Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness (90) celebrates after sacking Tennessee's Will Levis ... More last season. Lukas Van Ness isn't into excuses. Only realities. And the cold hard truth is Van Ness — the Green Bay Packers' first round draft pick in 2023 — was severely hampered by the broken right thumb he played with last season. Many expected Van Ness to take a major jump in 2024. Instead, the defensive end had three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss in Year 2 after posting four sacks, 10 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss as a rookie. That mediocre production has led many to speculate that Van Ness is on the 'Hot Seat' in 2025. Time will tell there. What the 23-year-old Van Ness knows is that he's healthy today. He didn't need offseason surgery. Just rest and physical therapy. And now that Van Ness is fully recovered, he's giddy about what awaits. 'Physically I feel fantastic,' Van Ness said Wednesday during the Packers' annual Tailgate Tour across Wisconsin. 'I was dealing with the thumb a lot last year, so I was able to get that back in the offseason and I'm feeling great. I can't wait for this season.' To protect his broken thumb last year, Van Ness lined up almost exclusively on the right side. That meant Van Ness worked against strictly left tackles, who are typically the best pass blockers on the offensive line. This season, Van Ness should be able to flip-flop spots with fellow defensive end Rashan Gary throughout a game and could draw more favorable matchups. 'I was really limited last year,' said Van Ness, the 13th overall pick in 2023. 'I could only play on the right side for the most part, due to this broken thumb. Now I can flip back and play on both sides of the defensive line, which I'm really excited about.' There remains a lot to be excited about when it comes to Van Ness, a physical marvel nicknamed 'Hercules.' Van Ness ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds coming out of Iowa at the 2023 NFL Combine. He had the largest hands (11 inches) in the defensive line group that year. His arms are an impressive 34 inches long. And he won't turn 24 until later this summer. Things have been challenging in Green Bay, though. Van Ness was a standup outside linebacker as a rookie in 2023, after playing with his hand on the ground at Iowa. The Packers switched from a 3-4 front to a 4-3 base last year, though, meaning Van Ness went back to playing as a traditional defensive end. Then, the thumb injury added a new set of challenges. There's no doubt, though, that the Packers needed more from Van Ness in 2024, meaning 2025 becomes a critical year in his development. 'It's important for all our guys, including Lukas,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at this year's NFL Combine. 'Again, we talked a little bit about we need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players, and Lukas is a big part of that. He does everything he can. He's everything you want in a professional as far as his work ethic and what he puts into it, and I expect him to take a big jump this year.' Green Bay holds the 23rd pick in the first round of this year's draft. And the Packers could certainly take another defensive lineman, a position where they lack depth. No matter what happens, Van Ness believes he's ready for bigger and better things. As seven current and former Packer players spoke to a group college students at Waukesha County Technical College as part of their annual tour Wednesday, team president Mark Murphy talked about the toughness Van Ness has displayed and called him a 'great player.' Van Ness is excited to try proving Murphy right this upcoming season. And if that happens, Green Bay's defense — which ranked sixth overall and sixth in points allowed last season — could take another step forward. 'My expectations are always going to be higher for myself than anybody else and I've naturally always been that way,' Van Ness said. 'I'm hard on myself, but that ultimately is what pushes me and drives me to be a great player. So, my mindset isn't going to change. I've still got to come to work, compete for my job, compete for a starting spot and I'm excited to do that this upcoming year.'
