Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

Iowa’s versatile defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness can be a solid option for the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 7 in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Las Vegas Raiders are three weeks away from making their first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, and while the team has been busy in free agency, there is still plenty of work to do on defense.

For most of last season, the Raiders depended heavily on Maxx Crosby to do most of the work in the defensive line.

The signing of Chandler Jones failed and while time will tell if he will turn it around, the team has to look for his replacement, while drafting the best player available in the draft.

EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa Hawkeyes

“Van Ness displays exceptional ankle flexibility and lower body looseness for his size, which translates to above-average agility. He fires off the line with a quick, low, explosive drive that helps him win the initial leverage battle. Van Ness loads power with his compressed lower body before exploding into the lineman…The Iowa product’s powerful hands and upper body stun offensive linemen,” NFL Draft Bible said.

The Iowa product comes in at 6-5 and 272 pounds, the prototypical size for edge rushers in today’s NFL.

The one thing that stood out the most from Van Ness's college career is that he did not start a single game for the Hawkeyes, yet he managed to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors last season.

Van Ness finished the 2022 season with a career-high 38 tackles (17 solos), 11 tackles for losses and 6.5 sacks. He also tied for sixth nationally with two blocked kicks.

Some may question his technique or lack of other moves while pass-rushing, but why change something that is working?

That was the case for Van Ness, known to bull-rush his way to the quarterback. He's strong and physical at the point of attack, which gives offensive linemen a lot of trouble in pass protection and the ground game. Iowa also used him up and down the defensive line, so he can also play multiple spots.

Van Ness also is good against the run and that great combination up front earned him an 80.2 defensive grade in 2022.

The Raiders, on the other hand, could end missing out on top prospects early, have to draft the best player available and select Van Ness in the first round.

The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from  Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.

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