Packers Pick Up Fifth-Year Option for Lukas Van Ness

The Green Bay Packers picked up the fifth-year option for edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (foot) on Thursday, a source told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. It will guarantee Van Ness a 2027 salary of around $13.8 million. Despite missing around half of last season with a foot injury, the Packers appear confident that he'll be able to rebound this year and next year. The 24-year-old was taken by Green Bay with the 13th overall pick in 2023 out of Iowa, and he contributed 84 tackles (58 solo), 8.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 23 QB hits in 43 games (two starts) in his first three NFL seasons. Van Ness played in only nine games in 2025 due to his foot injury, finishing with 19 tackles (12 solo), 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and seven QB hits. The Packers will be relying on two edge rushers coming off major injuries last year, as Micah Parsons (knee) attempts to recover from a torn ACL that he suffered in late December.

Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman