One Packers defensive player faces more pressure than anyone else as expectations inside the building continue to rise
Lukas Van Ness enters his fourth season in the NFL, and this is the first one where he will be a preferred starter for the Packers. Also, there are big decisions coming about his future.
The Green Bay Packers have some obvious important pieces on the roster — Jordan Love, Micah Parsons, Zach Tom. But their set of early offseason decisions created a scenario where former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness quietly faces intense pressure entering the 2026 season. That’s both about the team and about his future in the NFL.
Roster circumstances
This has been an offseason full of turnover at the Packers’ edge defender room. Rashan Gary was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 fourth-round pick, and Kingsley Enagbare left in free agency to sign with the New York Jets. There’s obviously the Micah Parsons injury watch as well, as the star defender will likely miss the first few games of the regular season.
Green Bay may still do something in the draft, but so far the front office has not added any piece at the position — the only moves were the re-signings of Brenton Cox Jr. and Arron Mosby.
Presumably, Van Ness starts the season as the primary edge rusher on the team. That comes after a year where Van Ness suffered with an injury, but was much more efficient than he had been in his first two years — Van Ness generated 23 pressures, a career-high, even playing a career-low 151 pass-rush snaps. According to PFF, he had the best career grades in overall defense, run defense, tackling, pass rush, and even coverage — which should be more impactful in Jonathan Gannon’s scheme.
Beyond the first month of the season, Van Ness has the opportunity to be more effective when Parsons returns. Last year, the Packers suffered without generating pressure among edges beyond Parsons, and that’s mostly why they moved on from Gary. If Van Ness grows in Year 4, the defensive front would immediately become more disruptive.
Contract fate
The Packers will soon have to make a decision on Van Ness’ fifth-year option, which they should likely exercise. That would get him under a fully-guaranteed contract through 2027, giving the player and the team more flexibility to evaluate the future.
Nevertheless, this 2026 season would be huge for Van Ness to determine his future in Green Bay. If he steps up and plays at a high level, the Packers will feel compelled to give him a long-term contract extension ahead of the fifth-year option. If the leap doesn’t come, the Packers will reasonably let him play out his rookie contract and delay the decision — and his big-time compensation.
It’s a monster season for Lukas Van Ness, and the Packers will have a telling answer about their first-round investment.
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