Not many players are under more pressure in 2025 than Lukas Van Ness. A first-round pick two years ago, he still has not shown why he was picked so high, with underwhelming performances and numbers for the Green Bay Packers—especially because of a lack of perceived development in Year 2 after doing just fine as a rookie.
Last year, the Packers ended up trading Presto Smith away and opened the door for Van Ness to step up. However, he didn't take advantage of the circumstances. Kingsley Enagbare was still the starter, and Brenton Cox Jr. was the young player to rise with more snaps.
Year 3, therefore, is a pivotal moment for Van Ness' career. The Packers didn't sign any edge rushers in free agency and are banking on the development of their own players to generate more out of his key position.
"Ultimately, it's part of the game," Van Ness said during the Packers tailgate tour earlier this week. "It's just a circumstance. At the end of the day, I've got to continue to take those leaps and grow as a player. Those are just things I've had to work through."
After next season, the Packers will have to make their first impactful contract decision on Van Ness, if they will exercise or not his fifth-year option. So the time to produce is now. Despite the pressure for performance, the defensive end has a calm and positive perception.
"Looking into the season, this is obviously the most important one as it's the next one ahead," Van Ness added to Packers.com. "This is my job. I love what I do, I love playing football. My goal every single day is to come to work and put that effort in, and then, ultimately, put the best product on the field on Sundays."
Even though the Packers didn't sign defensive ends in free agency, the draft still brings possibilities for internal competition. It's a different impact, though, because the new players would also come in to develop. But that doesn't change how Van Ness faces his situation.
"Whether we take two guys (or) we take nobody, I think we're all going to come to work every day," he mentioned. "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."
The Packers finished last season with Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr., and Arron Mosby on the depth chart at the position. All of them are back in 2025. So far, the only additions, if you want to call them that, are Deslin Alexandre and Jeremiah Martin, who signed to the 90-man roster after finishing up last season on the practice squad.
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