Lukas Van Ness Was the Offseason MVP and Green Bay Still Has NO CLUE What to Expect
Alright, listen up, Emerald City! You hear a lot of noise this time of year, but the buzz out of Green Bay right now is WILD. Lukas Van Ness, the guy they picked with that Aaron Rodgers trade pick, just absolutely DOMINATED their offseason program. Like, MVP-level performances, capped off by a minicamp last week that had him creating havoc everywhere. For a team scrambling to fill some HUGE shoes, this *should* be massive news. But here's the kicker: after three seasons of almost nothing, are we really supposed to believe this? Are the Packers finally getting the guy they thought they drafted?
"Hercules" is Flexing, But Can He Deliver?
Let's be real, the Packers are staring down a defensive front that's been decimated. Micah Parsons, who was their closer, is recovering from a torn ACL. Rashan Gary got traded to the Cowboys. Kingsley Enagbare? He's with the Jets now. That's a Grand Canyon-sized hole, and they need Van Ness to step up in a way he just hasn't before. So yeah, seeing him "lurking in the Packers' backfield and in the face of Jordan Love" for three weeks straight, dominating practices, is the kind of development you dream about. It’s what you want to see from a young, unproven depth chart, especially with Week 1 at the Vikings and Week 2 at the Jets looming. If this version of Van Ness shows up, their defense has a fighting chance to survive the early grind.
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The Numbers Are Getting Hard to Ignore
But here’s where we gotta hit the brakes. This isn't Van Ness's first rodeo. The Packers moved up to No. 13 in the 2023 draft specifically for this guy, nicknamed "Hercules." Coming out of Iowa, where he never even started a game, he flashed serious potential with 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for losses. The problem? That potential has been stuck in neutral, or worse, reverse. In three seasons, he has a measly 8.5 sacks. He had four sacks and eight tackles for losses as a rookie, three sacks and six tackles for losses in 2024, and a dismal 1.5 sacks and three tackles for losses in only nine games in 2025. This isn't getting better, folks, it’s getting worse.
Van Ness himself admitted at minicamp that the last two years, dealing with a thumb injury and then a foot injury, weren't how he "envisioned it going." He talked about learning a lot, focusing on the guys in the building, and just "winning the Super Bowl." He says he’s "feeling good, I’m feeling healthy, I’m getting back to normal again." That's great, but talk is cheap when the production on the field has been so light.
So, the question for Green Bay fans, and frankly, the whole league, is crystal clear: Will this "offseason MVP" carry over when it actually matters? Can Van Ness finally deliver a game-clinching sack or a game-turning play, the kind of impact Parsons used to provide? Or will he slip back into the shadows where he's spent most of his three seasons? The Packers are still waiting for potential to turn into production, and the clock is ticking before Week 1.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.