The Green Bay Packers’ lack of pass-rushing depth was apparent when they struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks after Rashan Gary tore his anterior cruciate ligament last November.

They are confident Lukas Van Ness can help change that.

Rather than getting a pass catcher for new starting quarterback Jordan Love in the opening round, the Packers selected Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night.

Van Ness showed his explosiveness by getting a combined 131/2 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in two seasons at Iowa.

Van Ness’ remarkable emergence at Iowa has the Packers optimistic about his long-term upside.

The former high school hockey player said he was 220 pounds when he arrived at Iowa in 2020 and redshirted during the pandemic-shortened season. He now is listed at 272 and has a physique that earned him the nickname “Hercules.”