Packers find insane Day 3 value as productive player at premium position could answer looming roster problem
Micah Parsons is expected to miss the first few games of the regular season, and Dani Dennis-Sutton can be an impactful piece in the rotation from the get go.
The Green Bay Packers tend to love athletic freaks with room for development. However, that usually forces them to take some prospects with underwhelming college production — Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness were two obvious examples of that process.
That’s not the case with Dani Dennis-Sutton, a fourth-round pick for them in this year’s draft. The 73rd player on the consensus board, he was the 120th overall pick, but the Packers trust him to be ready to contribute right away in the edge defender rotation.
“First of all, his production is really, really good,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said after the draft. “His size, his speed, and I just think he’s got so much in front of him as far as his best football goes. He’s an elite athlete for a guy that’s almost 6’6″, around 265, but his ability to come off the edge and rush the passer, affect the passer, he can bull rush, he can win with speed. His length affects the passer. He can set edges. So I think he’s got a lot to offer and a lot of really good football ahead of him.”
Dennis-Sutton generated 82 pressures, 17 sacks, and 25 tackles for loss over his final two seasons at Penn State.
PFF pass-rush grade in final college season
DDS had more production than previous Packers’ high draft picks.
- Dani Dennis-Sutton 79.3
- Lukas Van Ness 74.3
- Rashan Gary 72.7
Widely praised decision
Dani Dennis-Sutton was mostly perceived as a second/third-round prospect. The fact that the Packers got him in the fourth round was impressive for Green Bay. Dane Brugler, from The Athletic, said Dennis-Sutton was his favorite Packers draft pick this year.
“Dennis-Sutton’s value at No. 120 makes him my favorite of the Packers’ haul,” Brugler wrote. “Although he doesn’t perform up to his testing numbers, he is a commanding presence who plays with force on defense and special teams (blocked three punts in 2025).”
ESPN’s Matt Miller indicated that DDS was his favorite value in the entire fourth round.
“Let’s highlight Dennis-Sutton’s value,” Miller mentioned. “My No. 56 overall player fell to the Packers at pick No. 120 and will immediately boost the outside pass rush. With Micah Parsons’ return date unknown, Dennis-Sutton will have a chance to play early.”
Micah Parsons may or may not start the season on the physically unable to perform list. Anyhow, he’s expected to miss the first few seasons of the regular season. The edge rotation will have Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox, Barryn Sorrell, and Collin Oliver. Dennis-Sutton can be a huge contributor in that rotation from the get go — and at 22, his upside for the future is just as high.
