Lukas Van Ness is already being labeled Packers 'biggest bust'

Lukas Van Ness hasn't even played a snap at training camp, let alone the regular season, but the Green Bay Packers rookie is already being labeled a bust.

Van Ness should see significant snaps early in his career, especially if Rashan Gary misses the start of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.

With his size, power, and athleticism, Van Ness can help Green Bay's defense immediately, even if he isn't a regular starter initially.

But based on a prediction from Bleacher Report, he may as well just give up now.

Bleacher Report predicts Lukas Van Ness will be a bust in 2023

Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine predicted every team's biggest bust this season. For Green Bay, he went with first-round rookie Van Ness.

Ballentine noted that Van Ness didn't start games at Iowa and needs to "build his pass-rushing repertoire."

"In college, he got away with dominating because of his length and strength," Ballentine writes. "Those won't be enough to find success early in the NFL. Van Ness will have a rotational role but the bulk of the Packers pass rush is going to come from Rashan Gary and Preston Smith."

Does rotational role = bust? Apparently so.

It's no secret the Packers are building for the future. Van Ness is a key part of that. Nobody expects him to hit double-digit sacks and dominate in a starting role from year one.

The expectation is for him to play as the number three edge rusher behind Gary and Smith, just as Gary did in his rookie season when the Smith Bros. started every game.

Green Bay having two quality starters already in place takes nothing away from Van Ness. It's smart roster-building by the Packers. They drafted him knowing he doesn't need to start immediately and can be eased in while learning from two veterans.

That's hardly a knock on Van Ness. Playing a rotational role is the plan. Developing behind Gary and Smith won't make Van Ness' rookie season a bust. That's the expectation.

More Packers news and analysis