Packers Scouting Report: Lukas Van Ness is Popular Mock Draft Pick

The Green Bay Packers have plenty of directions they can go with their first-round pick when the 2023 NFL Draft comes around. With needs at wide receiver, safety, and tight end, they could easily select a player at any of those positions. Or they could go with edge/defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness.

Van Ness is quickly rising up draft boards and has been projected to go to the Packers in several recent mock drafts by national media pundits. He doesn’t fit one of Green Bay’s top needs, but addresses a secondary gap they have.

Rashan Gary might not be ready for the beginning of the season following the torn ACL he suffered last season. Preston Smith and Kinglsey Enagbare are hardly prepared to handle the top edge spots on their own. The defensive line is also a need with Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed leaving in free agency.

Fortunately for Green Bay, Van Ness can help cover both of those needs.

Here’s a scouting report on Lukas Van Ness, a versatile defensive lineman and edge rusher, who is a popular mock draft pick for the Green Bay Packers.

Athletic Testing

The Packers love their athletes, so let’s start there. He has a 9.38 overall Relative Athletic Score (10 is the maximum), with his speed and agility being labeled as “elite” and “great”, respectively. His 4.58-second 40-yard dash leads the way and is especially impressive. His 1.57-second 10-yard split is also amazing.

His explosiveness is lacking, with his 31-inch vertical jump being one of his worst marks (only his 17 reps on the bench press was worse). At 6-foot-5, however, he brings good size to the position.

Pros

• Despite his bench press numbers, he’s built like a rock. At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds he utilizes his frame to his advantage at the line of scrimmage. His bull rush is his strongest pass-rushing move.
• His overall power stood out in his film.
• Has excellent balance and plays with a terrific pad level.
• He has the versatility to play on the edge or with his hand in the grass along the defensive line.

Cons

• He’s a raw prospect who will need some time to develop.
• Has no other reliable pass-rushing moves beside the bull rush.
• Didn’t start a single game for Iowa.
• Can be undisciplined in his gap integrity.

Comparisons

His athletic profile resembles current Packer Preston Smith as well as Travon Walker, Jared Allen, and Ezekial Ansah. Player comps include Justin Smith and Hendrickson. Hendrickson actually comes up quite a bit and is mentioned in his athletic profile, by The Ringer and by the Draft Network. 

Range

Van Ness is one of the more volatile prospects in this draft. Some draft pundits have mocked him all the way up to 13, but a majority have him going in the second round (sounds like a typical Packers’ first-rounder). His current consensus, as compiled by The Athletic, sits at 35th overall.

*All scouting information was complied from Relative Athletic Scores, PFF’s Draft Guide, and The Ringer’s Draft Guide.