Grading the pick: Packers continue strong draft work combining need and value with Dani Dennis-Sutton in the fourth round
Green Bay used the 120th pick to select Penn State edge defender Dani Dennis-Sutton, an ideal selection considering needs, range of the draft, and player’s profile.
The Green Bay Packers keep their predictable, in the best way possible, path in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the 120th overall pick, in the fourth round, the Packers drafted Penn State edge defender Dani Dennis-Sutton.
DDS was on A to Z Sports Green Bay’s list of best available prospects on Day 3 of the draft. An exceptional athlete with a 9.96 RAS (ninth all-time among DEs), he fits a depth need for the Packers and has the perfect profile for their style of defensive player.
Even better, Dennis-Sutton was the 73rd player on the consensus big board. The combination of draft value and attacking needs, plus taking a player from a premium position, is exactly how the Packers can maximize a class even without a first-round pick.
Dani Dennis-Sutton’s Key Facts and Stats Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
- 126 college career pressures
- 45 pressures in 2025
- 25 stops in 2025
- 8.5 sacks in each of the past two years
- 25 tackles for loss in the past two years combined
Dani Dennis-Sutton’s scouting report
From a physical tools perspective, Dennis-Sutton rivals any edge defender in the 2026 class. Boasting a long and well proportioned frame, Dennis-Sutton has the ability to play in the mid/high 260s if he pleases.
The movement skills he brings to the table at his size are notable. Dennis-Sutton is easily able to outreach opposing players at the top of the track, showing some underrated bend to flatten to the quarterback.
The former Penn State star is also a high effort run defender who shows a nice motor on the majority of snaps. Despite a lot of experience in Happy Valley, Dennis-Sutton is still a very raw player from a technical perspective. If that technical prowess ever matches the overall talent, he has a chance to become a good starter.
Positional reasoning
The Packers have a star in Micah Parsons, whom they spent their first-round pick on, and another solid piece — potentially a high-end starter, depending on how he develops — in Lukas Van Ness. But after trading Rashan Gary and losing Kingsley Enagbare in free agency, the lack of depth was a concern. Gutekunst frequently mentions that you can never have too many pass-rushers, so taking some shots at a premium position is not only smart, but likely.
The group also has Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver, two Day 3 picks from last year, and Arron Mosby who’s mostly a special teamer.
Grade: A
