Lukas Van Ness

Packers Sign Round 1 DL Lukas Van Ness

June 27th, 2023 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers still have some work to do regarding draft signings, but they checked off their top box Tuesday. Green Bay signed first-round pick Lukas Van Ness to his rookie contract.

Van Ness’ deal will be fully guaranteed and will run through 2026. The Packers can extend the contract through 2027 via the fifth-year option. While that decision will not be due until May 2026, the Packers have not declined a fifth-year option since passing on 2013 first-rounder Datone Jones‘ in 2016.

Van Ness made some draft history by going in the first round despite never starting a game at Iowa. The 6-foot-5, 272-pound defensive lineman still zoomed onto the Round 1 radar, clocking a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the Combine after impressing as a critical off-the-bench cog with the Hawkeyes. Van Ness, who totaled 13 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss during his final two college seasons, has experience rushing from the edge and interior posts along the defensive line. That will give the Packers options.

Green Bay chose Van Ness with the No. 13 overall pick it obtained from New York in the Aaron Rodgers swap completed days before the draft. Moving up two spots, the Packers took a defensive player once again opted for defense in Round 1. Although the team traded up for Jordan Love in 2020, that is the only offensive investment the team has made in Round 1 over the past 12 drafts.

Over the past several months, the Packers lost Rashan Gary to a torn ACL and lost Dean Lowry in free agency. The team is expected to move 2022 first-rounder Devonte Wyatt into its starting lineup alongside Kenny Clark. Van Ness could fit as an edge rusher alongside Gary and Preston Smith or an interior presence with Clark on passing downs. This addition gives the Packers intriguing choices, assuming Gary returns to full strength, along their front seven.

Even after the Van Ness agreement, the Packers still have both their second-round picks — tight end Luke Musgrave and wide receiver Jayden Reed — unsigned. Guarantee issues involving second-round picks have gridlocked the middle of that round, with no players chosen between Nos. 40 and 48 having signed yet. Musgrave went off the board 42nd.

Packers Select Lukas Van Ness At No. 13

April 27th, 2023 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

With their first selection in their post-Aaron Rodgers era, the Packers have added a player on the defensive side of the ball. Green Bay used the No. 13 pick on Iowa defensive end Lukas Van Ness.

The move continues a run of Packers defensive investments in Round 1 and continues to leave Green Bay fans waiting yet another year for a first-round receiver move. The Packers were connected to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and tight end Michael Mayer, but Van Ness became the team’s pick at No. 13 — a choice it obtained in Monday’s long-awaited Rodgers swap. But after taking two defenders in last year’s first round and Eric Stokes in 2021, the Packers continued to bolster Joe Barry‘s unit.

Green Bay is betting on potential here; Van Ness did not work as a full-time starter at Iowa. But the 6-foot-5 defender showed versatility by operating as an outside and inside rusher for the Hawkeyes. Van Ness combines a 272-pound frame with 4.58-second speed, giving the Packers upside as they add yet another early-round defender to their roster.

Van Ness, who totaled 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, could give the Pack some options. The team used a 2022 first-round pick on defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt and still rosters anchor Kenny Clark. Dean Lowry departed as a free agent, joining the Vikings. Van Ness could also line up as a 3-4 outside linebacker. The Packers have Preston Smith under contract and Rashan Gary going into his fifth-year option season. Gary, however, is coming off a November ACL tear.

This marks a big night for the Hawkeyes, who saw two front-seven bastions — Van Ness and linebacker Jack Campbell — become top-20 picks. Campbell also stayed in Big Ten country, going to the Lions at No. 18.

Eagles Eyeing Move Up In Round 1?

April 26th, 2023 at 4:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:17pm: Indicating the Eagles are exploring a trade to move up, NFL.com’s James Palmer notes it could be for Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson. The multiyear Buckeyes starter has gained steam in the final days, and Palmer adds Johnson impressed the Eagles on his visit. The Cardinals have been connected to Johnson as well, but they are still exploring a move down to collect assets and better position themselves for an O-lineman.

2:36pm: The rare Super Bowl entrant to hold a top-10 pick in the following draft, the Eagles are widely believed to have their eye on pass-rushing help. They appear prepared to trade up from No. 10 overall to acquire it.

Philadelphia is laying groundwork for a trade higher into top 10, per ProFootballNetwork.com’s Tony Pauline, who notes (on Twitter) the move would be for a pass rusher. The Eagles lost Javon Hargrave in free agency and have not re-signed Robert Quinn but have a fairly deep group of edge defenders. Though, all four of those players (Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett) are on veteran contracts.

Eagles connections to edge players have formed during the pre-draft process. The NFC champions are viewed as fans of Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith and are believed to be high on Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness as well. Another report, via the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, indicates the Eagles are intrigued by Van Ness.

It is certainly possible one of these rushers — if not both — will be available at No. 10. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Van Ness and Smith as the 15th- and 16th-best prospects in this year’s class. Philly has not been closely connected to the top edges in this year’s class — Will Anderson Jr., Tyree Wilson — and a move into top three, where Houston and Arizona are open to moving down, would be costly.

The Eagles have made a trade on Day 1 of the draft in four of the past five years. Last year, they traded a first-rounder to the Saints, in a complex pre-draft swap, and moved up for Jordan Davis. Philly then used the third of its 2022 first-rounders to acquire A.J. Brown.

The team has also been viewed as perhaps the lowest floor for Jalen Carter, the consensus best defensive tackle in this year’s class and one of the top overall talents. Just ahead of the draft, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes that perception remains. Carter met with the Eagles and every other team holding a pick between Nos. 5 and 10. The Bears are also seeking a D-lineman and are believed to be OK drafting the higher-risk prospect.

Like other teams without a quarterback need, the Eagles stand to benefit by other teams pouncing on passers in the top 10. Philly does have the No. 30 overall choice as well, and both Breer and La Canfora have Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez going off the board at No. 10. With the Eagles’ starting corners — Darius Slay, James Bradberry — going into their age-32 and age-30 seasons, respectively, the Super Bowl contenders figure to strongly consider bolstering this position with one of their first-round picks.

Draft Rumors: Stroud, Wilson, Carter, Kancey, Bears, Van Ness

April 23rd, 2023 at 5:23pm CST by Ely Allen

When the Panthers traded up for the No.1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the betting odds for who would be selected swung from Alabama’s Bryce Young to Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. As we have crept towards the pivotal day, Young has forced his way back into the favorite position. Questions about how the teams following Carolina will approach their picks have some believing in a potential slide for Stroud on Thursday. According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, the current belief is that Stroud won’t make it past the Raiders at No. 7 overall.

While some believe that quarterbacks could be the focus of the first four picks, there are possibilities for each pick. The Panthers could choose Young, and there’s a chance the Texans will go pass rusher. Arizona likely won’t take a passer after paying Kyler Murray, and the Colts have Kentucky quarterback Will Levis as an option opposite Stroud. The Seahawks and Lions follow them, but both have veteran quarterbacks coming off of strong seasons.

That brings us to the Raiders. Even after Las Vegas brought in Jimmy Garoppolo, rumors have claimed that the team will still look into drafting a passer with their top pick. If Stroud somehow pinballs his way past the first six picks, it would be extremely difficult for the Raiders to pass him up.

Here are a few other rumors as we close in on Draft Day:

As we mentioned above, if the Texans pass on quarterback, they could choose a pass rusher with the second-overall pick. Many believe Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson could be that selection, but according to Pauline, Houston has some problems with his medicals. If Wilson is not their selection as a pass rusher, Alabama’s Will Anderson would likely be the other option.
There has been some reported certainty that Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter will be the Seahawks choice at No. 5 overall. According to Pauline, that certainty is coming from more external sources than internal. Reportedly, Seattle has some hesitancy about handing over the $30MM of guarantees that Carter would get in that draft slot. We’ll have to wait and see if that hesitancy wins out.
One name that continues to rise up draft boards is that of Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. Despite the lack of ideal size, at 6-foot-1, 281 pounds, Kancey has convinced many that he is a lock to be selected on Day 1, according to Pauline. The Saints, in particular, are a team that have really done their due diligence on Kancey. They could feel really good about nabbing a certain first-round talent with the 29th pick of the draft.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears could be looking to add a tight end in a year that is incredibly deep at the position. Chicago won’t likely use a top ten pick on Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer or Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, but thanks to the Roquan Smith-trade, the team has two second-round picks and may use them on such prospects as Georgia’s Darnell Washington, South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft, or Iowa’s Sam LaPorta.
Speaking of Iowa, a recent mock draft by Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan slotted Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness as a top ten pick. Caplan explains that he’s spoken with several executives that believe Van Ness won’t make it past the Eagles at No. 10 overall. Philadelphia had been looking into pass rushers in free agency with an aging Brandon Graham, and Van Ness may be the answer.

Buccaneers, Patriots Host DL Lukas Van Ness

April 13th, 2023 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The top of the 2023 draft offers a number of highly-touted edge rushers, but teams picking in the middle of the first round will have several options at the position as well. One of the class’ second-tier options is drawing interest in the build-up to the draft.

Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness has taken visits with the Buccaneers and Patriots, as noted by the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud and Evan Lazar of Patriots.com (Twitter links). Those teams are slated to pick 19th and 14th overall, respectively, which could put them in range to add the versatile defender when they are on the clock.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks the redshirt sophomore 14th overall in this year’s class, behind only Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson in terms of edge rushers. As opposed to the latter two, Van Ness saw work on the inside during his time with the Hawkeyes, something which comes as little surprise given his frame. The 6-5, 264-pounder was still productive when used as a pass-rusher, though.

Van Ness totaled 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss over the past two campaigns, figures which show his disruptiveness in the passing game to go along with his strength against the run. His experience on the edge and along the interior makes him a similar prospect to fellow Iowa alum A.J. Epenesa, who was ultimately selected 54th overall by the Bills in 2020. Van Ness will all-but assuredly not have to wait that long to hear his name called.

The Buccaneers were able to re-sign rotational pass rusher Anthony Nelson in free agency as one of a few key defensive contributors they have retained despite their financial constraints. That hasn’t stopped the team from looking into first-round options such as Nolan Smith, however. The latter has also visited the Patriots, a team which posted the fourth-most sacks in the NFL last season but could still benefit from long-term investments up front.

Van Ness would provide versatility to both Tampa Bay and New England if he were to land there, and would be expected to establish a significant role in his rookie season. Both teams have other needs, though, and Van Ness is surely on the radar of other clubs set to pick in the middle-to-late stages of Day 1. In any case, his stock will be worth following as the draft draws nearer.