The Lukas Van Ness development strategy playbook seemed clear from the moment he was drafted. A promising, athletic rookie, Van Ness would earn playing time slowly, working his way up from behind the edge rushers already ahead of him.
It’s a common-sense approach, and one we’ve seen play out in Green Bay before. Rashan Gary, now the Packers’ top-dog pass rusher, had to wait his turn behind Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and even Kyler Fackrell before he got a chance to spread his wings. As of 2023, he’d play the role of one of the established veterans ahead of Van Ness, along with Preston Smith, funnily enough.