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Former Iowa football star gets fifth-year NFL option picked up
TL;DR
The Green Bay Packers have picked up Lukas Van Ness's fifth-year NFL option, worth $13.8 million for 2027. Despite a challenging start to his career, the Packers show confidence in the former Iowa star's potential.
Key points
- Lukas Van Ness's fifth-year option is worth $13.8 million.
- He was drafted 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
- Van Ness has played 43 games in three seasons.
- He missed half of the 2025 season due to a foot injury.
- His performance has declined each season.
Lukas Van NessGreen Bay PackersIowa Hawkeyes
It hasn't been the smoothest NFL career so far for former Iowa star Lukas Van Ness. Even with that, the Green Bay Packers are displaying a lot of confidence in their young edge rusher to figure things out.
On Thursday, reports surfaced that the Packers are picking up the fifth-year option on Van Ness. He's set to make $13.8 million in 2027 on that fifth-year option, after only making a little over $3 million this upcoming season.
It's a big show of faith in Van Ness from the Green Bay front office. The former Hawkeye was taken with the 13th-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but has yet to play up to first-round expectations. He missed the last half of the 2025 season with a foot injury, but has still played in 43 career games across his first three seasons. In those games, Van Ness has accumulated just 84 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
His sack totals and overall production have diminished every season, but that didn't deter the Packers from picking up his option. Van Ness is set to start opposite star Micah Parsons on the Green Bay defensive line, facing a huge make-or-break season, even with the option picked up.
Careers in the NFL can change in a hurry. Perceptions can be altered quickly. Packer fans won't remember Van Ness' lack of production early in his career if he has a monster 2026 season. The organization has shown confidence in him. Now it's time for Van Ness to do in the NFL what he did at Iowa: dominate.
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Q&A
What is Lukas Van Ness's fifth-year option worth?
Lukas Van Ness's fifth-year option is worth $13.8 million for the 2027 season.
Why did the Packers pick up Lukas Van Ness's option?
The Packers picked up Lukas Van Ness's option as a show of faith in his potential to improve despite his inconsistent performance so far.
How has Lukas Van Ness performed in his NFL career so far?
Lukas Van Ness has played in 43 games, recording 84 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and one forced fumble, with diminishing production each season.
