Dani Dennis-Sutton is being used inside to exploit defensive mismatches. Boasting elite athleticism, the rookie looks to fill the pass-rushing void and spark the Green Bay Packers' defense.
Dani Dennis-Sutton knows that he has to be ready for anything as a rookie pass-rusher for the Green Bay Packers.
Dennis-Sutton, or DDS as we like to call him at Packers Roundtable, was selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft because of his tremendous blend of size, athleticism and pass-rushing production.
In four seasons with the Penn State Nittany Lions, he notched 127 total tackles (78 solo), 34.5 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and eight passes defended.
That's elite production, and as such, it was a bit of a surprise that DDS was still on the board for the Packers at pick No. 120.
He has the potential to be a high-impact rookie for the Packers, especailly with fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons expected to miss a handful of games at the start of the season. The Packers will be in desperate search for any pass-rushing juice they can find, and Dennis-Sutton could very well contribute as a rookie as a result.
And yet, he's still a rookie in the NFL. What that means is that everything is new and you've got to have the mindset to pitch in where you can.
The word "no" or the phrase "that's not my job" can't exist for a rookie if they have any intentions of sticking around the league for any amount of time.
What that means for a guy like Dennis-Sutton is that if he's asked to play special teams, he'll say yes. For what it's worth, he should be asked to play special teams by new coordinator Cam Achord. DDS blocked three punts during his senior season at Penn State, and that skillset can be of great use for the Packers in 2026.
Ultimately, though, the Packers drafted Dennis-Sutton to play defense, and at least early on in training camp, new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is trying to find ways to use his athleticism.
For instance, according to team reporter Mike Spofford, DDS has been lined up at defensive tackle in simulated pass-rush situations to try to get the Packers some push from the middle of the line.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (51) greets fans while participating in the DreamDrive bicycle ride during the third day of training camp on July 31, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect."I did a little bit at Penn State," Dennis-Sutton said of rushing from defensive tackle, per Spofford. "I think it's just another way for me to get on the field and create mismatches. J.G.'s [Gannon] always about getting mismatches, one-on-ones, and they feel like going inside is a good mismatch for me going against a guard."
Dennis-Sutton has the size to rush from the interior. He's 6-foot-5, 256 pounds, so the Packers don't want him spending every down inside, but he can certainly hold his own. With an elite relative athletic score (RAS) of 9.93 and a 40-time of 4.63, he can absolutely get after the quarterback whether he's lined up inside or on the edge.
"A commanding presence with the size, strength and quickness to be a force on the edge," was Dane Brugler's take on DDS in "The Beast".
Can he be a beast on the inside as well? It seems as if the Packers are willing to find out in certain situations.
