With Micah Parsons leading the way, the Green Bay Packers already had one of the most disruptive defensive forces in the game. However, this is a team sport, and there's only so much he can do on his own.
That's why general manager Brian Gutekunst opted to pair him with fellow Nitanny Lion Dani Dennis-Sutton. The Packers took the Penn State star in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft in a move that went mostly unnoticed at the time.
Then again, it only took a handful of OTAs and some tape for everyone to realize they had been sleeping on a potential star. And now that Parsons will miss the start of the season, the Packers will get a chance to watch their fourth-round pick outplay his draft stock right out of the gate.
Dani Dennis-Sutton can be an impactful rookie for the Packers
The Packers have usually taken things slowly with their first-year players, but Dennis-Sutton doesn't look like the type of guy you spoon-feed. He's got an NFL-ready body and motor, and while he's not the most polished player at the position, it should be hard to keep him off the field, even as a rookie.
Unlike Parsons and most of the Packers' pass-rushers, Dennis-Sutton is a sturdy run defender. That has always been Micah's Achilles heel, and they could form a strong one-two punch once he gets back to full strength.
The Packers have found mixed results with their most recent fourth-round picks. Notably, they've all been on the defensive side of the field (Colby Wooden, Evan Williams, Barryn Sorrell, and Dani Dennis-Sutton).
Dennis-Sutton still needs to work on his hands and counters as a pass rusher, but he can make an immediate impact as a run stopper on early downs. He logged 26 run stops in 280 run-defense snaps in his last season in college, and Pro Football Focus gave him a 77.1 run defense grade.
Finding difference-makers at No. 120 is a tall order, and it's even harder to land players who can take the field from day one. Dennis-Sutton might not have the highest ceiling as a headhunter, but his prowess against the run gives him a much higher floor than most of the pass-rushers that went before him in the draft. At worst, he's the type of guy who can play in the league for a decade.
Also, getting to play alongside one of the league's sack kings, it should be just a matter of time before he improves his technique and adds more juice to his pass-rushing arsenal. He's flown under the radar for way too long, but it won't be long before everyone remembers his name.
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