It’s that time of the year. The Green Bay Packers have until May 1st to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of 2023 first-round draft pick Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness, who is the same age as many draft picks from the 2026 draft, was taken 13th overall in the 2023 class, which only had 31 first-round selections because the Miami Dolphins forfeited their pick due to tampering.
In three years in Green Bay, Van Ness has been able to play 43 games (full seasons in 2023 and 2024, but dealt
with injuries in 2025). He has 23 quarterback hits and 8.5 sacks according to Pro Football Reference, to go along with 17 tackles for losses in the run game. In total, he’s played 1,056 defensive snaps and 387 special teams snaps. His play rate on defense has increased every year, going from 33 percent to 39 percent and then 45 percent in 2025. He will likely start opposite of Micah Parsons, now that Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare are out of the mix.
According to Over The Cap, the Packers would have to pay Van Ness $13.8 million to keep him under contract in 2027, at least if his option is picked up. That’s slightly more than the $10 million that backup edge defender Enagbare got on the open market this offseason. The assumption is that Enagbare will be the Jets’ third edge defender in 2026, backing up David Bailey, the second overall pick in the 2026 draft, and Joseph Ossai, who received a three-year, $36 million contract this offseason.
Yes, you can make eight figures as a backup in the NFL now. Welcome to 2026.
Keep an eye out for news on the Van Ness front, as the Packers only have so much time to make a decision. So far, only one player has had his fifth-year option declined this cycle.
Options picked up
- #1: Bryce Young, QB, Carolina
- #2: C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston
- #3: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Houston
- #5: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle
- #6: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Arizona
- #8: Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta
- #9: Jalen Carter, iDL, Philadelphia
- #10: Darnell Wright, OT, Chicago
- #11: Peter Skoronski, OT, Tennessee
- #15: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, New York Jets
- #17: Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England
- #19: Calijah Kancey, iDL, Tampa Bay
- #20: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle (extended)
- #21: Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
- #22: Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore
- #23: Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota
- #25: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo
- #27: Anton Harrison, OT, Jacksonville
- #30: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Philadelphia
Options declined
- #7: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, New Orleans
Decisions not made
- #4: Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis
- #12: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit
- #13: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Green Bay
- #14: Broderick Jones, OT, Pittsburgh
- #16: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Los Angeles Rams
- #18: Jack Campbell, LB, Detroit
- #24: Deonte Banks, CB, New York Giants
- #26: Mazi Smith, iDL, New York Jets
- #28: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Cincinnati
- #29: Bryan Bresee, iDL, New Orleans
- #31: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas City
