There’s no hiding from it anymore—Lukas Van Ness is inching toward a crossroads in Green Bay. The former 13th overall pick, once viewed as the next long-term building block for the Packers’ front seven, is now being floated as a potential interior lineman. Not because it’s the plan they were hoping for, but because the staff is clearly searching for any way to get something out of him.
Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that there’s “a lot of thought” going into the idea of Van Ness taking reps inside. He worked at defensive tackle during second-team drills during OTAs and continues to rotate between roles. While the move is being framed as part of his versatility, the truth is the Packers are testing whether a new position can finally bring out some results.
Van Ness has played in every game since being drafted in 2023, but the impact has been minimal. His pressure rate dipped in Year 2, his run defense drew poor grades, and his overall production hasn’t come close to what you’d expect from a first-round pick. The edge rusher has seven sacks through two seasons... not exactly filling up the boxscore there. It's tough when that's the primary function of his role.
If this move inside works, it might salvage his career arc. If it doesn’t, it just might seal it.
Lukas Van Ness' position switch screams more desperation than innovation
The move is not about reshaping the defense. It’s about trying to salvage a player the team clearly hasn’t figured out how to use. Van Ness came in with some elite physical traits—6-foot-5, 272 pounds, 4.58 speed, long arms, and raw power. But without a reliable pass rush repertoire or the ability to consistently get off from NFL-caliber linemen, he’s been easy to neutralize.
Shifting him inside on passing downs might simplify his job. He won’t need to bend the edge or win with finesse. He can rely on raw power and try to create pressure by collapsing the pocket from the interior. It’s a narrower role, but potentially a more effective one for his skillset. And for Green Bay, it’s a way to get more bodies like Rashan Gary, recently drafted Barryn Sorrell, or Kingsley Enagbare on the field together.
What makes this all harder to stomach is how this pick was framed when it was made. Van Ness was the first selection of the Jordan Love era. He was supposed to represent a new era of Packers football, not become a multi-year project still in search of a role. If the move inside doesn’t lead to progress, it’ll only add more doubt about whether Van Ness can ever carve out a meaningful role on this defense, or if he needs to resurrect what could have been elsewhere.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed Preston Smith as a current member of the Packers.