Packers pick up fifth-year option on edge rusher Lukas Van Ness
The Packers are picking up the fifth-year option on edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, a first-round pick from the 2023 draft.
The Green Bay Packers are picking up the fifth-year option on edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, a first-round pick from the 2023 draft, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic . The option extends Van Ness' contract through the 2027 season, keeping him under team control at $14. 5 million -- fully guaranteed -- for 2027.
Declining the option would have put Van Ness into a contract year in 2026. The Packers had until Friday, May 1 to make the decision on Van Ness' option. Back in January, Mark Oldacres of Packers Wire detailed why the Packers were likely to pick up the option .
The 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Van Ness had endured a slow start to his NFL career, producing 7. 0 sacks over 34 games during his first two seasons before tallying only 1. 5 sacks over nine games during an injury-plagued 2025 season.
With Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare departing this offseason, Van Ness will be expected to start at edge rusher in 2026. There were signs of a breakout third season developing for Van Ness in 2025 before a lingering foot injury in October stalled his progress. He did produce a sack and a forced fumble during the Packers' playoff loss in Chicago.