The Green Bay Packers' 2025 season told two very different stories on defense - one with Micah Parsons on the field, and one without him. And the contrast was stark.
When Parsons was healthy, Green Bay’s pass rush didn’t just function - it thrived. Former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was able to keep the defensive structure intact, consistently generating pressure with just four rushers. That allowed the back seven to drop into coverage, limit explosive plays, and play with a level of control that gave the defense its identity.
But once Parsons went down with a torn ACL in Denver, everything changed.
Without their premier pass rusher, the Packers had to get creative - and that’s where things started to unravel. Over the final five games of the season, Hafley had to dial up pressure through blitzes and simulated pressures, tactics that can work in doses but also strain coverage responsibilities. The margin for error shrank, and Green Bay paid the price.
The numbers speak for themselves. The Packers gave up 30 or more points in three of their final five games - including two losses to the Bears - and went winless down the stretch.
Their defensive success rate plummeted from 11th in the league through Week 14 to 30th over the final four weeks. That’s not just a drop-off - that’s a collapse.
Parsons is a generational talent, no doubt. He’s the kind of player who changes game plans and forces offenses to account for him on every snap.
But the Packers can’t afford to be that reliant on one player. A sustainable pass rush has to be built on more than one elite talent, and in 2025, Green Bay didn’t have enough behind him to hold the line.
That’s why this offseason, attention turns to Lukas Van Ness.
Van Ness is entering a pivotal stretch in his young career. The Packers are approaching a decision on his fifth-year option - a move that would keep him under contract through 2027 at a projected cost of around $15 million.
Declining it would put him on track for free agency after the 2026 season. In other words, this is a prove-it year, and the clock is ticking.
Through three seasons, Van Ness has put together a modest stat line: 84 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 61 pressures. Solid, but not quite what you'd hope for from a top-15 pick.
He hasn’t yet locked down a full-time starting role, and availability has been a concern. But there are signs of growth - and reasons for optimism.
Micah Parsons, for one, believes in him. Back in September, Parsons said, “I think Van Ness is going to have his best year yet this year.
I’m going to make sure of it.” He praised Van Ness’s versatility, work ethic, and team-first mentality - the kind of traits you want in a foundational piece of your defense.
And early in 2025, Van Ness looked like he was turning a corner. He racked up 16 pressures over the first five games before a foot injury slowed him down.
He ended up playing in just 10 games, but even in limited action, he posted the most efficient season of his career. On just 263 defensive snaps, he generated 23 pressures - a personal best.
The advanced metrics back it up. Van Ness ranked 22nd among 124 edge defenders in pass-rush win rate and fourth in stop rate against the run. That’s not just encouraging - that’s production on a per-snap basis that suggests real upside.
So where does that leave the Packers?
Historically, Green Bay has had mixed results with fifth-year options. Since the rule was introduced in 2011, they’ve declined the option for six first-rounders, including names like Nick Perry, Eric Stokes, and Quay Walker. But they’ve also picked it up for six others - players like Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, and Rashan Gary - most of whom eventually signed long-term extensions.
Van Ness doesn’t quite fit the mold of the edge defenders who’ve had their options picked up. His 13 career sacks (per PFF) are well below the average for players who get that kind of early commitment.
For context, since 2018, only Marcus Davenport had his fifth-year option exercised with similar production. Most edge rushers in that category are closer to 25 sacks by Year 3.
But this isn’t just about numbers - it’s about context and projection.
Van Ness is still only 24 years old. He’s shown flashes of high-level play when healthy, especially in terms of efficiency and run defense. And with Rashan Gary’s production tailing off - he hasn’t recorded a sack or a tackle for loss since late October - the Packers may need to re-evaluate their long-term outlook at edge rusher.
Gary is set to carry the second-highest cap hit on the roster in 2026. If his on-field impact doesn’t match the financial investment, it becomes harder to justify keeping both him and Van Ness on big-money deals. If the Packers move on from Gary, Van Ness becomes a logical candidate to step into a starting role opposite Parsons.
In that scenario, picking up the option makes a lot more sense. It’s not just about retaining a rotational piece - it’s about investing in a full-time starter with the potential to grow into a key figure in the defensive front.
Bottom line: the Packers can’t afford to be caught short again if Parsons misses time. They need more from their supporting cast, and Van Ness is at the top of that list. His age, efficiency, and trajectory suggest there’s more in the tank - and this offseason, Green Bay has to decide whether they believe that enough to bet on it.