![]() When a defense is able to generate quick pressure up front, there isn’t a player on that side of the ball that doesn’t benefit. So having solid depth is quite important, even with a player like Gary on your team. Edge Rusher is a heavily rotated position, with oftentimes four or even five players seeing regular playing time from week to week. Overall, the Packers defense struggled to generate regular pressure, and as a group, the edge rushers have to be better at containing the run and setting edges in 2023. Prior to the 2022 season beginning, edge rusher depth was a concern, and we would see why once Gary went down with an injury. Right away, Van Ness will help upgrade the Green Bay Packers’ edge rusher rotation, which is a task that should be high up on Gutekunst’s to-do list this offseason. Van Ness is more of a splash player than consistent force on tape, but he possesses projectable traits that should allow for continued ascension as a pro. He’s taken snaps inside at Iowa but might need to keep filling out his frame before he’s ready to succeed as a run stuffer and pass rusher as a 4i in a 3-4 front. Van Ness needs to work on hand attacks for quicker block shedding and to diversify his rush beyond bull-rush challenges. He’s a power-centric prospect with force as his modus operandi as both a run defender and pass rusher. Nicknamed “Hercules” by teammates, Van Ness is a well-developed defensive end with excellent lean mass and additional growth still to come. That versatility to play either inside or out is something that we know catches the Packers’ eyes, and we’ve seen them use Rashan Gary in a similar capacity.įor more on Van Ness, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote in his pre-draft report: Van Ness posted 43 pressures and eight sacks this past season, ranking 11th in PFF’s pass-rush win rate and 24th out of 200 edge rushers in their run-defense grade. Despite being listed as an edge rusher, the majority of Van Ness’ snaps came lined up in the B-gap. He was, however, productive, particularly in 2022. In terms of experience, Van Ness doesn’t have a ton, only seeing the field in 20, totaling 846 total snaps. ![]() ![]() ![]() The Packers could see McDonald as a pass-rushing weapon early in his career and a long-term option opposite Rashan Gary on the edge.Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (91) In related news, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and director of football ops Milt Hendrickson were in Ames to see the Iowa State pro day earlier this week. Given his length, weight and athleticism, NFL.com compared McDonald to Randy Gregory. If his unofficial numbers from the pro day are correct (or close), McDonald’s Relative Athletic Score would finish above 9.0 despite him being undersized. McDonald is a three-time All-Big 12 selection and 2021 All-American who produced 34 sacks, 42 tackles for loss, 10 forced fumbles and eight pass breakups over 54 career games at Iowa State.Īt the combine, McDonald hit 36″ in the vertical jump and covered 11-0 in the broad jump after measuring 6-4 and 239 pounds. According to Tony Pauline, McDonald ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and finished the three-cone drill in 6.6 seconds and short shuttle in 4.21 seconds at his pro day. Teams are allowed 30 opportunities to host prospects for visits before the draft. McDonald, a Waukesha native and potential first-round pick in the 2023 draft, was inside Lambeau Field touring the facility. According to his official Instagram account, the Green Bay Packers hosted a pre-draft visit with Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald IV on Thursday.
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