With one game left in the regular season, the Green Bay Packers have a clear team order. And the results may surprise you.
In last week’s victory over the New Orleans Saints, Brenton Cox Jr. played eight more defensive snaps than Lukas Van Ness. In Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Cox played 29 defensive snaps compared to 25 for Van Ness.
Why is this disturbing? Cox was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft, and Van Ness was taken 13th overall.
Over the past three games, Cox has been one of Green Bay’s most productive players, recording two sacks and 12 pressures. Van Ness has zero sacks and half that pressure over the same period.
Cox’s late-season surge deserves recognition, but it also shines a glaring spotlight on Van Ness, who struggled to live up to expectations in Year 2.
According to Pro Football Focus, among the 36 players entering the league in 2023, Van Ness ranks 12th with 19 total pressures on the season and 13th in pass winning percentage. Meanwhile, Cox was much more effective, recording 17 pressures despite playing 240 fewer snaps than Van Ness. Cox’s rushing winning percentage is also the second highest in the class at 17.0%.
Cox, who was on a balmy streak through the first nine games, has done an excellent job of making the most of his opportunities since his role increased dramatically following the mid-season replacement of Preston Smith.
The Packers made the move, hoping that players like Van Ness would step in to fill the void. In some matches he rose to the occasion. In others, you’d leave the game wondering if he ever played even once.
When Green Bay drafted Van Ness from Iowa, the prevailing belief was that he was an underdeveloped prospect. While he certainly had the preferred size and athleticism you want at the position, his skill set was extremely raw. Work on Van Ness has been going on for almost two seasons. While his athletic qualities are undeniable, his development as an attacker has yet to make up for his potential.
Raising that concern is defeated by Cox, who was passed over 259 times in last year’s draft. Of course, that had more to do with Cox’s off-the-field concerns than his ability.
In Green Bay, the coaches won’t worry about how you get there once you’re on the roster. Still, it’s strenuous to ignore the fact that the former UDFA is beating Van Ness.
It’s too early to knock off the top 15 players in his second season, but questions about Van Ness’ trajectory are becoming increasingly complex to ignore.
