Packers Face Costly Decision on Van Ness' Fifth-Year Option

Green Bay must decide by May 1 whether to pick up the $13.7 million option for 2027 on their 2023 first-round pick.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:34pm

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The Green Bay Packers face a critical deadline on May 1 to decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option on 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. If they do, Van Ness will be under contract for the 2027 season at a cost of $13.752 million. If they don't, he'll play this season on an expiring contract. Van Ness has shown promise but hasn't lived up to his draft position so far, leaving the Packers with a tough decision.

Why it matters

The Packers' decision on Van Ness' option will have major financial and roster implications. Picking up the option would be a significant investment, but letting him play on an expiring deal could mean losing him in free agency next year. With the offseason trade of Rashan Gary and the presumed absence of Micah Parsons, Van Ness is expected to be a key part of the Packers' pass rush in 2026, so his development is crucial.

The details

Van Ness, the 13th overall pick in 2023, has not lived up to his draft position so far. After 8.5 sacks as a rookie, his production has declined each season, with just 1.5 sacks in 9 games in 2025. He's played a limited role, seeing just 33% of defensive snaps in 2023, 39% in 2024, and 23% in 2025 due to injuries and inconsistent play. However, he showed promise when healthy last season, ranking 28th in pass-rush win rate and 21st in pass-rush productivity.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will conclude on Saturday, April 25.
  • The Packers must decide on Lukas Van Ness' fifth-year option by Friday, May 1, 2026.

The players

Lukas Van Ness

A 2023 first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers who has not yet lived up to his draft position, with declining production over his first three seasons.

Brian Gutekunst

The general manager of the Green Bay Packers who must decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option on Lukas Van Ness.

Micah Parsons

A star pass rusher for the Packers who is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season due to a torn ACL.

Rashan Gary

A former Packers pass rusher who was traded away this offseason, creating an opportunity for Lukas Van Ness.

Kingsley Enagbare

A Packers pass rusher who departed in free agency, further opening the door for Lukas Van Ness.

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What they’re saying

“'J.P., obviously, he's a freak. He's one of the best, Hall of Famer, one of the GOATs. That's kind of who I'm trying to get Van Ness to turn into with those freakish long arms and his power and what he did. Julius, he's one of the great ones, and if you can get anybody to play the way he did, we're going to have a lot of success.'”

— Micah Parsons

“'We've had a lot of conversations about the different body types of players that we can replicate and watch. I grew up in the Chicago area, so he was someone that I looked up to and, obviously, when I got drafted here and seeing that he was playing here, as well, that's a pretty good player to replicate. So, I definitely watch his tape and I definitely see some similarities in the way that we play – a physical, run-you-over, power-type game.'”

— Lukas Van Ness

What’s next

The Packers must decide by May 1, 2026 whether to pick up Lukas Van Ness' fifth-year option, which would keep him under contract for the 2027 season at a cost of $13.752 million.

The takeaway

The Packers face a difficult decision on Lukas Van Ness' fifth-year option, as he has not yet lived up to his draft position but could be a key part of their pass rush in 2026 with other departures. The team will have to weigh the significant financial investment against Van Ness' potential and the need for him to step up as a starter next season.