Packers fans have officially hit the panic button on Lukas Van Ness

The Green Bay Packers knew Lukas Van Ness needed time to develop when they selected him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, at some point, the Packers need consistent production.

Green Bay rarely picks inside the top 15. Selected 13th overall, Van Ness was the Packers' highest draft selection since Rashan Gary, who they selected with the 12th pick in 2019. Van Ness and Gary are the team's only top-15 picks in their past 15 draft classes. Fifteen.

Gary took time to reach his potential, and the Packers hope Van Ness will eventually get there, too.

But they need to see signs of it soon. They passed on the opportunity to draft cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who is quickly becoming a star for the New England Patriots.

It's still too soon to give up on Van Ness, but his production has been underwhelming this season, to say the least.

Lukas Van Ness' lack of production is becoming a problem for the Packers

Wendell Ferreira of A to Z Sports noted that Van Ness only has four pressures this season. Not sacks. Pressures. He has one sack, which came in the Packers' eight-sack performance against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3.

Is it time to get worried? Many Packers fans and analysts believe so, which is why we're starting to see tweets like this. And it's hard to disagree.

We can talk about how the Packers fleeced the New York Jets in the Aaron Rodgers trade (which they did), but the Jets made a far better first-round investment. The deal involved a first-round pick swap, with Green Bay jumping up two spots. New York used the 15th overall selection on edge rusher Will McDonald, who has eight sacks and 26 total pressures in 2024. Van Ness has one sack and four pressures.

Van Ness has a PFF grade of 46.5, which ranks 160th of 183 edge defenders.

The Packers need more. A lot more.

MORE: Packers' Jeff Hafley had the perfect reaction to Robert Saleh's arrival

Fortunately, they are getting production from the rest of their 2023 draft class. Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft have become significant contributions on offense, Dontayvion Wicks has shown Pro Bowl potential, and Luke Musgrave still has huge upside. He just needs to stay healthy. Add in Karl Brooks and Carrington Valentine, and the Packers hit a home run.

But the pressure is building on Van Ness. He has yet to start a game for the Packers and has played fewer snaps than Kingsley Enagbare this season. With rumors that Preston Smith has drawn trade interest, can Van Ness step up and fill the void if the Packers were to move on from the veteran pass-rusher?

Even if they don't trade Smith, Van Ness is supposed to be the future. You don't draft someone 13th overall without believing they can become a key starter.

Van Ness is only 24 games into his NFL career. There's still time. However, he is struggling to make a consistent impact, and at some point, potential must become production. It may be too early to hit the panic button, but his performances are concerning.

More Packers news and analysis