Lukas Van Ness

Lukas Van Ness' 37 pressures on true pass sets ranked fourth in the FBS in 2022. And his true pressure rate - Sports Info Solutions' pressure rate that isolates straight dropbacks, which are more likely to be similar across situations - tied Jalen Carter for the highest mark in the class at 16%.

He also impressed all 32 teams during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Per PlayerProfiler.com, Van Ness tested in the 92nd percentile in the 40-yard dash, achieving a 96th-percentile speed score at 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds. He's got Travon Walker (last year's No. 1 overall pick) freakiness with shades of current New Orleans Saints pass rusher Cameron Jordan to his disruptive game.

The Green Bay Packers have selected EDGE Lukas Van Ness with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Fantasy Impact

The Packers received the Jets’ 13th overall pick in the deal that sent Aaron Rodgers to New York and they used it on their defense, rather than giving new starting QB Jordan Love help on offense. Thor Nystrom has Van Ness as No. 11 overall and ED3 with an NFL player comp of Trey Hendrickson on his Top 500 big board. Van Ness wasn’t even a starter at Iowa but his talent and motor were enough to make him the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft. At 6’4”, 272 lbs, Van Ness and his giant 11” hands were a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten and collected 13.5 sacks in the last two seasons at Iowa. Green Bay had two first-round picks in 2022 and took LB Quay Walker and DL Devonte Wyatt, both out of Georgia and the Packers once again went the defensive route this year. Van Ness’ size and athleticism will translate to the NFL level and he should be another nice addition as Green Bay’s third first-round defensive pick in two years.