Surprise pick at number one in this 2023 NFL mock draft

14. New England Patriots: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Lukas Van Ness is 6’5″ and weighs 272 pounds and recorded a 40-time of 4.58.  Unreal speed for a man of his size but only has two seasons under his belt with the Iowa Hawkeyes.  As a freshman in 2021, he recorded 28 pressures with four sacks.  In his senior year, he was equally solid pressuring the quarterback with 43 total pressures but turned that into 29 hurries and eight sacks on the year, while playing fewer snaps.

Van Ness is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten and voted to multiple second-team All-Big Ten teams as well.  Additionally, he was voted a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club.

Van Ness also has a limited array of pass rush moves but with good coaching, can develop more moves at the NFL level.

Next Gen Stats gives him an athleticism score of 78; however, his calling card is his strength.  He effectively uses a powerful bull rush to beat blockers; however, lacks quick change-of-direction ability and will need to use his hands to shed blocks better.  At the next level, bull-rushing 300-plus tackles won’t get it done on a consistent basis.