The Packers exercised the fifth-year option on Lukas Van Ness’ contract despite the edge rusher’s first three seasons being disappointing.
The 13th overall pick in 2023 has 8.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hits and 84 tackles in 43 games in three seasons. He made only two starts, played only nine games and totaled only 1.5 sacks in 2025 due to a foot injury.
“It’s probably not been my ideal career if you would have talked to me in 2023 when I was a fresh rookie coming in here, but everyone’s got their own process and their own path,” Van Ness said this week, via Steve Megargee of The Associated Press. “I’ve trusted the path. I feel really good about where I’m at.”
Van Ness has never generated more than 27 quarterback pressures in a season, nor higher than an 11.2 percent pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats. He has never played more than 40 percent of the snaps in a season despite playing all 17 games his first two seasons.
But the Packers haven’t given up on him, and Van Ness hasn’t given up on himself. He still has a chance to live up to the team’s expectations and his expectations.
“I think pressure is a privilege to have,” Van Ness said. “We’re obviously in a blessed position where there’s people watching our spot and people are obviously going to have their own opinions, but at the end of the day I think you’ve just got to believe in yourself and believe in what you’re hearing in the building from your coaches and from your circle and other players in the defensive room.”
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