The NFL is an unforgiving business. For all the excitement, big plays, and stars that are produced, the other side of the coin is the dark side of the league, which puts pressure on players to perform and do so in a hurry.
The term “bust” is being tossed around to young players sooner than ever before these days if they don’t enter the NFL and produce Pro Bowl-worthy statistics in their first season. If a player continues to not live up to their draft stock, those claims get even louder.
One former Iowa football star, Lukas Van Ness, is facing those claims as he enters his third year in the NFL. After being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft at No. 13 overall, his production hasn’t gotten to where the Packers had hoped.
With pressure to perform mounting, Lukas Van Ness is facing the “bust” label, per CBS Sports, and needs a strong year to rid himself of that distinction.
Lukas Van Ness, GB, DE #90
Season: 3rd, Drafted: No. 13 (2023)
Van Ness felt destined for the Green Bay Packers even before he landed in Lambeau, coming out of Iowa with a background in hockey, but he’s been more of an intriguing Midwestern story than a difference-making pass rusher so far. Nicknamed “Hercules” in college, he’s yet to make his first official NFL start, managing seven total sacks since 2023 as part of the club’s edge rotation. Coach Matt LaFleur indicated this summer Van Ness could also be deployed as an interior defender to help spark his impact.
Why he will bust: LaFleur’s toying with his position suggests Van Ness doesn’t fit ideally into any one spot.
Why he won’t: The Packers’ entire defense is on the rise, and another offseason in Jeff Hafley’s system could be key.
Our prediction: Will bust – Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports
After his career at Iowa, which saw him tally 71 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks, Van Ness tested out of this world for NFL teams, which skyrocketed his draft stock when paired with his frame.
Since entering the NFL, he has appeared in 34 regular-season games for the Packers, but has not started. He has registered 65 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks in two years. To avoid the “bust” label, many eyes in Green Bay are on Van Ness to increase his production in 2025.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Former Iowa football star facing crucial NFL season with Packers to avoid ‘bust’ label
Reporting by Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
