Lukas Van Ness - NFL Mock Draft Roundup

We know the Green Bay Packers are all about defense in the first round of the draft and Lukas Van Ness is a logical selection in this NFL mock draft. Featuring an appealing blend of size, length, power, and flexibility, Van Ness can provide an answer for the Packers at 5-technique and solidify the defensive front. Only a redshirt sophomore, Van Ness' flashes have been enticing and he features a high ceiling.

Would Minnesota prefer a more explosive edge rusher like Nolan Smith or a better run defender like Lukas Van Ness? Minnesota elects to pick Van Ness to learn from Za'Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter.

Cleveland's pass rush is a bit weak outside of Myles Garrett. This is a problem, given how many great passing attacks reside in the AFC.

Lukas Van Ness has a relentless motor, but is a bit raw.

Flip a coin on Van Ness or Clemson DT Brian Bresee. The Patriots might need to find more offensive weapons — and Texas RB Bijan Robinson might be way too tempting here, even with talent already in the Patriot backfield — but Van Ness fits.

Van Ness is going to be a major riser during the pre-draft process. He's long, plays with a non-stop motor and has pass-rush moves to go along with smooth athleticism. The Eagles have to reload along the defensive line.

The NFC champs don't have a ton of needs given their position with such a young and deep team, but pending departures up front could allow them to look to reload with another pass rusher. Van Ness brings a bit of versatility and flashes a ton of potential with the way he explodes off the line.

Lukas Van Ness is one of the most powerful defenders in the 2023 NFL Draft, yet he doesn't lack in the athleticism department. So why didn't he start at Iowa? That's a question for the Hawkeyes coaching staff because Van Ness hit the genetic lottery and has lived up to his "Hercules" nickname when on the field.

Wide receiver is a position often addressed by the Chiefs in early mock drafts, but with last year's selection of Skyy Moore, and the acquisition of Kadarius Toney via a trade, Kansas City has two young receivers to develop already in the fold.

Another potential need is offensive tackle, but I'm taking the focus to the defensive side of the football. Frank Clark is a free agent after 2023, so adding a pass rusher with some room to grow is the kind of forward-thinking move that the Chiefs have made in recent years.

Lukas Van Ness is generating a ton of buzz as draft season begins, despite being used in more of a rotational role for Iowa this season. Still, the potential is there, as Van Ness has the power, burst, and explosiveness to win both on the edge, and on the inside. You might see him aligned as a defensive tackle in sub packages but win with speed and power, as he did for a sack against Wisconsin. You might see him on the edge, blowing up the pocket on third down as he did in the second quarter against Purdue to help the Hawkeyes get off the field.

The potential is there, and the Chiefs place a bet on that at the end of the first round.

Van Ness brings intriguing potential to the table. He's 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds and can really convert speed to power as a pass rusher. He played mostly as an interior player in 2021 but moved to the edge this past season. His play was more impactful as of late, with him jumping from a 69.2 run-defense grade and 71.8 pass-rush grade in 2021 to an 80.9 run-defense grade and 74.3 pass-rush grade in 2022. He's raw and inexperienced, but there's a lot of athletic potential to him.

I gave the Texans their quarterback of the future with the No. 2 pick, and general manager Nick Caserio should go with the best prospect on his board with this selection, which was acquired in the Deshaun Watson trade. Don't get picky and try to plug a hole -- this roster has to improve in several spots. Van Ness is a versatile and productive defender who made an impact at end and tackle for the Hawkeyes, even as he never actually started a game. He had 13.5 sacks over the past two seasons, 9.5 from the interior and four from the edge. NFL teams covet that sort of positional flexibility. He would get lots of early snaps for Houston.

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