The Green Bay Packers once again went against the grain when making their pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. While many people believed they would get a weapon for new quarterback Jordan Love, whether it be a wide receiver or tight end, Green Bay opted for another route.

With the No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Packers selected Iowa defensive end, Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness had a wide range to be selected in as some people thought he could go as high as No. 10, while others thought he would last until the early-20s.

While many Packers fans may not be thrilled about the team extending their streak to 21 years without selecting a wide receiver in the first round, Van Ness does fill a need. With Rashan Gary recovering from a torn ACL, the team needed to find some pass-rushing help to pair with Preston Smith.

Van Ness certainly qualifies as one of the higher-upside pass rushers in this year’s draft class. Matt Schneidman, a Packers beat writer for The Athletic, shared some thoughts from Dane Bugler of NFLDraftScout.com and CBS Sports on the selection via Twitter.

“He is an ascending player and competes like a grizzly bear with his fierce power and explosive twitch. He has the upside of an impactful NFL starter with inside/outside versatility.”

One of the knocks against Van Ness coming into the draft was that he had never been a starter at Iowa. He was a big part of their defensive line rotation, but it was always in a role coming off the bench.

He may not have had to handle a starting role with the Hawkeyes, but Van Ness certainly has the skill set and talent to do so. Standing 6’5” and weighing 272 pounds, he has the potential to be a very versatile player for the Packers along their defensive front. With a little more weight and strength added, he should be able to line up at defensive tackle without issue.

While help along the defensive front may not have been the most pressing need for the Packers, it was a need nonetheless. With the way the board fell, they had their choice of pass catchers as not a single wide receiver or tight end was selected until No. 20.

Ultimately, Van Ness was a higher-graded player than the offensive playmakers in the draft class. He will be a rotational player from Day 1 for the Packers, who will eventually be a bookend with Gary as the team’s premier pass rushers.