The Green Bay Packers have exercised the fifth-year contract option for Lukas Van Ness, drafted 13th overall in 2023. This extension is projected to pay him $14.5 million in 2027.
Key points
Lukas Van Ness was drafted 13th overall in 2023
Packers exercised his fifth-year contract option
Extension expected to pay $14.5 million in 2027
Van Ness has underperformed expectations so far
Packers believe he can become a quality starter
Green Bay PackersLukas Van Ness
Lukas Van Ness gets fifth-year contract option from Packers | Reports
GREEN BAY − Since the Green Bay Packers drafted Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in 2023 after only two college seasons as a rotational defensive lineman at Iowa, his career has been based on projection.
The Packers believed Van Ness would develop into a pass rusher worthy of a first-round draft selection. After three years of underperforming those expectations, they still believe Van Ness is on his way to being a quality starter on their defensive line.
The Packers extended Van Ness’ runway to reach that standard, exercising the fifth-year option in his rookie contract, according to multiple reports. The extension is expected to pay Van Ness $14.5 million in 2027 under the defensive end designation, according to independent salary cap expert Ken Ingalls.
Iowa State offensive lineman Dylan Barrett, who also played at Wisconsin, is one of several undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers are signing following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Scroll through this gallery to see all the players, including stats and where they played in college.
Q&A
What does the fifth-year contract option mean for Lukas Van Ness?
The fifth-year contract option allows the Packers to retain Lukas Van Ness for an additional year, ensuring he will be with the team through 2027.
How much will Lukas Van Ness earn in 2027 under the fifth-year option?
Lukas Van Ness is expected to earn $14.5 million in 2027 under the defensive end designation.
Why did the Packers choose to exercise the fifth-year option for Van Ness?
The Packers believe that despite his underperformance, Lukas Van Ness has the potential to develop into a quality starter on their defensive line.
When was Lukas Van Ness drafted and what position does he play?
Lukas Van Ness was drafted 13th overall in 2023 and plays as a defensive end.
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Kyle Drones, Virginia Tech Position: Quarterback Height: 6-1½
Weight: 226 pounds
In 12 games in 2025, Drones completed 56.5% of his passes for 1,919 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions his senior year.
He started 34 games in his three years at Virginia Tech. Drones began his college career at Baylor for two years.
Kyron Drones was a rushing threat during his college career, topping 1,847 yards on the ground and 22 touchdowns, including nine last season.
TJ Quinn, Louisville Position: Linebacker
Height 6-foot
Weight: 225 pounds
TJ Quinn (34) led Lousiville in tackles in 2023 and 2024 and was a third-team All-ACC performer in 2025.
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 308 pounds
Josh Gesky spent his entire five-year college career at Illinois.
He started all 13 games at left guard for the Illini in 2025 and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
Jaden Nixon, Central Florida
Position: Running back Height: 5-9
Weight: 199 pounds
Nixon spent his final college season at Central Florida where he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention as a kick returner.
He led UCF in rushing touchdowns (seven) and second on the team in rushign yards (554).
Nixon had the team's first kickoff return touchdown in eight years and totaled 438 return yards on the season.
For Nixon's redshirt junior season, he transferred to Western Michigan.
Nixon was a first-team All-MAC honoree after totaling 921 rushing yards on 143 attempts and 12 touchdowns.
Nixon spent the first three years of his college career at Oklahoma State (2021, 2022 and 2023). He redshirted in 2021.
Murvin Kenion III
Position: Safety Height: 5-10½
Weight: 205 pounds
He began his college career at Idaho before transferring to Nevada.
Dylan Barrett, Iowa State
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 325 pounds
Spent six years in college (First four at Wisconsin and then his final two at Iowa State)
R.J. Maryland, SMU
Position: Tight end Height: 6-4⅛
Weight: 236 pounds
R.J. Maryland spent all four years of his college career at SMU.
R.J. Maryland accumulated 1,495 yards, the most by a tight end in program history.
He's the son of former No. 1 overall pick Russell Maryland (1991, Dallas Cowboys), who later played one season with the Packers.
Nyjalik Kelly, Central Florida
Position: Edge rusher Height: 6-5½
Weight: 263 pounds
Kykalik Kelly was a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection his junior and senior seasons at Central Florida in 2024 and 2025.
He started 23 games for the Golden Knights, including all 12 his senior year.
A former four-star prospect, Kykalik Kelly began his college career at the University of Miami.
He spent two years there before transferring to UCF.
J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida Position: Wide receiver Height: 6-3
Weight: 207 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds
In his only season at Florida in 2025, he started in every game, recording 27 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns.
Before Florida, he spent two years at UCLA (2023, 2024) and two at Cal (2021, 2022).
Dillon Wade, Auburn
Position: Guard Height: 6-3
Weight: 313 pounds
Spent five years in college (final three at Auburn, first two at Tulsa).
He started all 12 games at left guard as a senior and 34 consecutive starts overall.
Eni Falayi, Wake Forest
Position: Tight end Height: 6-5
Weight: 249 pounds
Spent three years at UMass, one year at Utah Tech before finishing college career at Wake Forest in 2025. He played in 12 games with 11 startsat Wake Forest with 21 catches, 228 yards and two touchdowns.
1 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Iowa State offensive lineman Dylan Barrett, who also played at Wisconsin, is one of several undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers are signing following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Scroll through this gallery to see all the players, including stats and where they played in college.
1 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Iowa State offensive lineman Dylan Barrett, who also played at Wisconsin, is one of several undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers are signing following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Scroll through this gallery to see all the players, including stats and where they played in college.
2 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Kyle Drones, Virginia Tech Position: Quarterback Height: 6-1½
Weight: 226 pounds
3 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
In 12 games in 2025, Drones completed 56.5% of his passes for 1,919 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions his senior year.
He started 34 games in his three years at Virginia Tech. Drones began his college career at Baylor for two years.
4 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Kyron Drones was a rushing threat during his college career, topping 1,847 yards on the ground and 22 touchdowns, including nine last season.
5 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
TJ Quinn, Louisville Position: Linebacker
Height 6-foot
Weight: 225 pounds
6 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
TJ Quinn (34) led Lousiville in tackles in 2023 and 2024 and was a third-team All-ACC performer in 2025.
7 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 308 pounds
8 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Josh Gesky spent his entire five-year college career at Illinois.
He started all 13 games at left guard for the Illini in 2025 and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
9 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Jaden Nixon, Central Florida
Position: Running back Height: 5-9
Weight: 199 pounds
10 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Nixon spent his final college season at Central Florida where he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention as a kick returner.
He led UCF in rushing touchdowns (seven) and second on the team in rushign yards (554).
Nixon had the team's first kickoff return touchdown in eight years and totaled 438 return yards on the season.
11 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
For Nixon's redshirt junior season, he transferred to Western Michigan.
Nixon was a first-team All-MAC honoree after totaling 921 rushing yards on 143 attempts and 12 touchdowns.
12 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Nixon spent the first three years of his college career at Oklahoma State (2021, 2022 and 2023). He redshirted in 2021.
13 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Murvin Kenion III
Position: Safety Height: 5-10½
Weight: 205 pounds
He began his college career at Idaho before transferring to Nevada.
14 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Dylan Barrett, Iowa State
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 325 pounds
Spent six years in college (First four at Wisconsin and then his final two at Iowa State)
15 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
R.J. Maryland, SMU
Position: Tight end Height: 6-4⅛
Weight: 236 pounds
16 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
R.J. Maryland spent all four years of his college career at SMU.
R.J. Maryland accumulated 1,495 yards, the most by a tight end in program history.
He's the son of former No. 1 overall pick Russell Maryland (1991, Dallas Cowboys), who later played one season with the Packers.
17 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Nyjalik Kelly, Central Florida
Position: Edge rusher Height: 6-5½
Weight: 263 pounds
18 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Kykalik Kelly was a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection his junior and senior seasons at Central Florida in 2024 and 2025.
He started 23 games for the Golden Knights, including all 12 his senior year.
19 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
A former four-star prospect, Kykalik Kelly began his college career at the University of Miami.
He spent two years there before transferring to UCF.
20 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida Position: Wide receiver Height: 6-3
Weight: 207 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds
21 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
In his only season at Florida in 2025, he started in every game, recording 27 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns.
Before Florida, he spent two years at UCLA (2023, 2024) and two at Cal (2021, 2022).
22 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Dillon Wade, Auburn
Position: Guard Height: 6-3
Weight: 313 pounds
Spent five years in college (final three at Auburn, first two at Tulsa).
He started all 12 games at left guard as a senior and 34 consecutive starts overall.
23 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Eni Falayi, Wake Forest
Position: Tight end Height: 6-5
Weight: 249 pounds
Spent three years at UMass, one year at Utah Tech before finishing college career at Wake Forest in 2025. He played in 12 games with 11 startsat Wake Forest with 21 catches, 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Van Ness would have entered the final year of his rookie deal this fall without the fifth-year option. After a disappointing 2024, Van Ness rebounded to be a more disruptive pass rusher off the edge last season. He just wasn’t on the field enough, injuring his foot while sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco in October. Van Ness missed the next five games, returning in late November against Minnesota. He played only six snaps before exiting against the Vikings, missing the next two games.
In his third season, Van Ness finished with 1.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits. He added a sack against Caleb Williams in the playoffs. Van Ness’ production has declined in each of his three seasons after finishing with four sacks in a promising rookie year, but the injury put a significant dent in his numbers last fall.
The Packers aren’t just hoping Van Ness can fulfill the potential they believed he had entering the 2023 draft. After trading Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys this spring, they’re counting on it. Micah Parsons is expected to miss at least the first month of this season as he returns from a torn ACL, creating a void for a healthy Van Ness to emerge as one of the Packers most-important players in their defensive front.
