Packers: Pass rusher at No. 15 of recent PFF mock draft

What a week it has been. Teams around the NFL have been busy in free agency. On Wednesday, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirmed his intention to play for the New York Jets this season.

Considering the Packers and Jets are yet to work out the details of a trade, mock drafts can go out of date any second.

Will the Packers get a first-round pick in return for Rodgers? A second? Third? Who knows?

Until we have those answers, all we can do is stick to the picks as they currently are.

And that’s how Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema approached his latest mock draft. He factored in that Rodgers will likely be playing for New York, but didn’t include any swap of picks.

It means Green Bay picks once in the first round at 15th overall, and Sikkema had the Packers landing Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness.

The Packers have talent at edge rusher with Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Kingsley Enagbare, but they need more depth.

Gary is returning from a season-ending injury, Smith is entering his age-31 season, while Enagbare still has areas to improve.

Van Ness can become a difference-maker, making him a smart addition in the first round.

“He has experience playing on the interior and the speed to play on the edge,” wrote Sikkema.

The Packers need to improve their pass rush. Joe Barry’s defense struggled to consistently generate pressure last season, something they must improve to remain competitive in the NFC North.

GM Brian Gutekunst should make the most of a deep edge rusher class, and why not add a potential difference-maker in the first round?

Van Ness is one of many pass rushers who could be selected in the first round, and he would be a great addition to the Packers’ defense.