On Thursday night, Green Bay employed the 13th overall selection to draft edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (Iowa). This pick was obtained through the trade that transferred Rodgers to the Jets earlier this week.
During the 2022 season, Van Ness was Iowa’s top performer, with 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Green Bay has chosen a defensive player in the first round. In previous years, they drafted linebacker Quay Walker and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt, while cornerback Eric Stokes was their premier choice in 2021.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 6-5 |
| Weight | 272 |
| Arm length | 34 1/2″ |
| Hand | 11″ |
| Wingspan | 83″ |
| 40-yard dash | 4.58 |
| 10-yard split | 1.57 |
| Vertical jump | 31.0″ |
| Broad jump | 9-10 |
| Short shuttle | 4.32 |
| Three-cone | 7.02 |
| Bench | 17 |
| RAS | 9.39 |
In addition to the 13th overall pick, the Packers received a second-round pick from the Jets as part of the Rodgers deal. It remains to be seen whether they will continue to bolster their defense with this upcoming pick.
Let's go @packers❗️I'm IN THE GAME 🎮#Madden23 | #EAathlete pic.twitter.com/Y9T8MGsVkk
— Lukas Van Ness (@lukas_vanness) April 28, 2023
"I can't wait to get my career started here with Green Bay."
Welcome to the Pack, @lukas_vanness!#PackersDraft | @meijer pic.twitter.com/fKe2ia8xui
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 28, 2023
I like this pick. He’s fast and can still put on some upper body strength. He has a motor like Jered Allen. He doesn’t have many moves yet, but I think he’ll get there. Here he is destroying Peter Scoronski who was taken ahead of him.
https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1555712533457158146?s=20
People want JSN, but injuries kept him out a long time and he got run down from behind a lot by college defensive backs.
Pass rushers will always trump WR’s and TE’s early in the first round, so it’s not surprising then that Van Ness was the pick. WR’s and TE’s didn’t start coming off the board until the back third of the 1st round. This is no accident. QB’s, DB’s, LT, pass rushers, always have a higher premium.
Just imagine the prep time for LVN and MLF to get their hair ready for game day.