Packers former top-15 pick will have 'expanded role' this year, per report

The Green Bay Packers have an emerging star on their defense.

With training camp and preseason games now fully underway, Green Bay is able to see its regular season roster coming into form. There are position battles popping up at camp as well as instances of players separating themselves as clear contributors.

One shining example of the latter is second-year defensive end Lukas Van Ness, who was selected at No. 13 overall by the Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.

Van Ness made modest contributions to Green Bay's defense in his first season, finishing the year with 22 tackles (18 solo) in 13 games played, plus four solo tackles across Green Bay's two playoff games. Not bad for a then-22-year-old rookie out of Iowa.

Van Ness is showing vast growth as a player this summer, such that he's being predicted to be a much larger force on the Packers defense in his second season.

Bleacher Report released a piece calling Van Ness a potential "impact defender" last week.

"The Green Bay Packers chose Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in last year's draft knowing full well that he was a developmental prospect," Bleacher Report's NFL Staff said. "The team should be rewarded for its foresight based on how Van Ness has looked through training camp and the first preseason contest against the Cleveland Browns."

"The Browns didn't have their entire starting offensive line on the field, with backup quarterback Jameis Winston leading the way. As a result, Van Ness was too much to handle, with three tackles for loss and a sack."

"The sophomore edge-defender could have had a second sack but failed to secure it, though Colby Wooden cleaned up the negative play. Preston Smith turns 32 later this year. Positive returns from Van Ness portend an expanded role this fall."

Green Bay's Jordan Love-led offense is receiving all of the hype this offseason, but it's the Packers defense that will probably determine if they can win games in January.

Lukas Van Ness could find himself a key part of that effort.

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