Lukas Van Ness And The Bucs
April 11th, 2023
Would Tampa Bay dare draft another edge rusher from Iowa?
And at the same time draft another raw, project-type outside linebaker with Grade A athleticism?
Various reports said Lukas Van Ness made a “top-30” visit to Tampa this week. The redshirt sophomore out of Iowa is considered by most to be a late-first-round pick when the draft kicks off on April 27..
Van Ness is bigger, stronger and faster than Bucs edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was coming out of college in 2021, but Van Ness is raw like JTS. He mostly was a rotational player at Iowa, not a cornerstone starter. Van Ness racked up 70 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks for Iowa the past two seasons. He also blocked two punts in a game last season.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht drafted edge rusher Anthony Nelson (2019, fourth round) and right tackle Tristan Wirfs (2020, first round) out of Iowa. So it’s fair to say Licht has faith in the way the Hawkeyes’ trenches are coached.
At 6-5, 272 pounds with great speed, Van Ness has incredible potential. He also rushed successfully inside in college. But Joe doesn’t think the Bucs would bite this season on a versatile rusher who might need a season or more to develop.
Plus, if the Bucs get the improvement they’re yearning for from Tryon-Shoyinka and last year’s top pick, Logan Hall, then Van Ness might have trouble seeing the field.
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April 11th, 2023 at 4:06 am
You can never have too many pass rushers.
April 11th, 2023 at 4:25 am
I finally got around to watching some vid on him yesterday…. Not a bad pick in a trade down. I’d rather we go OT though.
April 11th, 2023 at 6:08 am
if he is available when they pick they should take em.
April 11th, 2023 at 6:40 am
Oline
April 11th, 2023 at 6:44 am
From reading the tea leaves Bucs drafting either OT, Edge or QB in 1st rd
April 11th, 2023 at 6:53 am
How would he have trouble seeing the field? An article below this site fears Shaq may not be back…ever. Soooo we’re moving away from the “sack sack sacks” policy? I’m all for a PR this year. Van Ness, NSmith, someone. This year is a wash. We’re not doing crap this year, so let’s get that crappy rookie pass rush season under our belt now, then ‘go get’ Hooker and we’ll build this thing right. QB and Pass Rusher and we’re rebuilding that critical foundation
April 11th, 2023 at 7:15 am
Welp we know we’ve got scouts that network with the Iowa football program, we picked Nelly & Wirfs a year apart from one another. I like Van Ness, but wouldn’t be surprised if we end up with Sam LaPorta as an addition to the TE room.
April 11th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Which is more of a necessity: getting a plug and play OT or taking a flyer on an edge rusher. Van Ness looks like he has plenty of potential but if he is going to take time to develop, isn’t his selection more of a luxury pick given the number of holes Licht is trying to patch? Granted JTS and Logan Hall have not really shown a lot yet and Iowa has been a program which Licht has had success but I have to agree with MadMax: an OT is the bigger need in round 1! However, if the Bucs could somehow land Van Ness in the second round, perhaps a trade up can be had if he is still on the board at the start of day 2 if he drops.
April 11th, 2023 at 7:54 am
Read a blurb on spotrak, 15 of 32 starting tackles were drafted in the first round. Hard to get good ones in the later rounds
April 11th, 2023 at 7:57 am
Dream on ….
April 11th, 2023 at 7:57 am
Need to see him bend the edge! Just looks like a high motor rusher
April 11th, 2023 at 8:00 am
I think Licht knows he needs to nail this pick with a starter. My guess is o-line or safety. Maybe we trade back a bit and can swing on a guy like this but if we don’t, I think it’s probably LT. LT in a passing league is critical and Licht has shown consistency in finding productive linemen. If we take care of the line, we’ve at least solidified the offense as best as possible.
April 11th, 2023 at 8:02 am
I wouldn’t be unhappy. Reminds me a little of JJ Watt. But I think OT would be nicer?
April 11th, 2023 at 8:11 am
Pick the player with the best star potential. I don’t care if he plays much in year one. When we look back on this draft, make me say “yeah, they made the right choice”.
April 11th, 2023 at 8:49 am
I’m a BOA guy, myself
April 11th, 2023 at 9:13 am
I hope he makes it to 19.
April 11th, 2023 at 9:37 am
Only if he has palsy in his arm/shoulder and the fella who rates higher might talk too much in the locker room.
April 11th, 2023 at 9:40 am
Sure, let’s not draft a guy with great potential and might take a year to develop so we can draft a guy that could be average his entire career. If he’s the guy, he’ll be the guy.
April 11th, 2023 at 9:41 am
Winny, LOL. Also if he can spasm around like a headless chicken, continuously taking himself out of l,as.
April 11th, 2023 at 9:42 am
Plays
April 11th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Sorry….but he won´t be there…..
April 11th, 2023 at 9:59 am
Not really Joe, let’s say JTS and Hall develops this season, and shaq isn’t what he used to be, Van Ness could see the field rotating and then next year he could be special. All that depends on development tho. If he could had later, late 2nd early 3rd. I’d say do it. Trade back get an extra pick, offensive tackle first and then grab him in 2nd.
April 11th, 2023 at 11:10 am
Draft the guys who have done it in college. Not the guys you have to teach how to play football.
April 11th, 2023 at 12:02 pm
If we want VanNess, I have a feeling we will have to move up. You’re definitely not trading back and getting him. There aren’t many guys with his size and athleticism. This guy has JJ Watt power and change of direction. When people here say he has no bend, they are just regurgitating what they hear from the talking heads. The guy ran a sub 7 second 3-cone at 275 pounds. This guy has only played 2 seasons. He’s a top 3 edge and if you get him at 19 that’s unbelievable.
April 11th, 2023 at 12:38 pm
No. More. Projects. We have to retool certain positions urgently. If he couldn’t start consistently in college, nuh uh no way. Let someone else at the bottom of the 1st gamble.
We will draft OL in the first unless some other Edge falls.
April 11th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Absolutely impossible to have too many pass rushers and too many cover corners.
I’ll tell you right now, they aren’t going to go into next season with the exact same cast of characters at the outside linebacker position that they had last year. At least one draft pick is going to get used at that position.
April 11th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
WhatTheBuc is on the money. If this guys makes it to 19 and they skip him to reach on a T then Licht needs to be fired.