The Green Bay Packers are faced with multiple questions they need (or will need) to answer regarding their team, on both their roster and their coaching staff. While the team does want to bring back head coach Matt LaFleur with a new contract extension, talks have been going on for days now and there has not been any news, one way or another, on how they are progressing.
Additionally, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is interviewing for five of the nine open head coaching jobs around the NFL and could leave the team for one of those positions.
But in addition to these coaching situations, the Packers have to take a look at their roster, both for 2026 and beyond. This year, they face an important decision regarding 2023 first round pick Lukas Van Ness, one that should not be a difficult one to make.
The Green Bay Packers should pick up the 5th-year option for Lukas Van Ness
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
On the surface, Van Ness’ stats do not jump off the page. This past year, he played in just nine games (he missed eight due to injury) and had just 1.5 sacks and 12 tackles. In three seasons, he has amassed just 8.5 sacks, which many do not feel is acceptable for a former first round pick.
It is important to keep in mind, though, that Green Bay has not given Van Ness many opportunities. It is commonly their practice to play veterans over younger players as much as possible, and their 2023 first round pick found himself behind Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, and Micah Parsons on the depth chart.
However, Mark Oldacres of Packers Wire points out that Van Ness ended the 2025 NFL season ranked 22nd out of 124 edge rushers in terms of pass rush win rate and are fourth in stop rate against the run.
As he enters his fourth and final year of his rookie contract, Van Ness is primed for a career year which will likely see him starting full-time opposite of Parsons, who was named First Team All-Pro in 2025. Gary and Enagbare may not return next season (and this especially true for Gary, who has under-performed since signing his massive contract with Green Bay).
With this in mind, the easy decision the Packers should make this offseason is to exercise Van Ness’ fifth-year option for 2027. This will pay him roughly $15 million that year, a bargain for one of the top pass rushers in the NFL, which the advanced stats cited above show he certainly can be.
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