The Green Bay Packers dipped back into Big Ten country on Day 3, grabbing Penn State edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton with the 120th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 256-pound defender arrives as a sturdy run stopper and proven special-teams disruptor who is expected to battle for early snaps on the edge and on kickoff and punt units.
Packers' Day 3 pick
The Packers used the No. 120 selection on Dennis-Sutton, a two-time third-team All-Big Ten honoree, according to Packers.com. The team notes he stacked up 84 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 17 sacks over the last two seasons and that he led the FBS with three blocked kicks in 2025. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he checked in at 6-5 3/8 and 256 pounds, clocked a reported 4.63-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39½-inch vertical jump.
What scouts see
Evaluators point to Dennis-Sutton's length, energy and ability to clog up the run, while also flagging that his pass-rush polish is still a work in progress. Sports Illustrated emphasized his athletic testing and special-teams production, calling him a potential four-down contributor and outlining room to grow with his bend and technique. NFL.com's draft tracker labeled him a base defensive end type whose physical traits line up with an early rotational role rather than an immediate every-snap job.
How he fits in Green Bay
The selection addresses an edge need after the offseason exits of Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare and adds another long, athletic body for the front seven while Micah Parsons works back from a knee injury, according to Packers.com. Dennis-Sutton is projected as depth help on early downs with a real chance to carve out a role on special teams as Green Bay continues to sort out its pass-rush rotation. The team's draft coverage framed him as a toughness and numbers boost along the defensive line.
Local angle
After landing Dennis-Sutton, the Packers turned to offense and took Kentucky center Jager Burton in Round 5, while several nearby prospects also came off the board, local outlets noted. As TMJ4 reported, Hartland native Max Bredeson and Milwaukee's Riley Nowakowski were among the Southeast Wisconsin products to be drafted. TMJ4 also noted that Green Bay still had two picks remaining as Day 3 rolled on.
“I wanted to play any possible game I can for Penn State,” Dennis-Sutton said at his pro day, per Sports Illustrated. The Packers will get a closer look at him during rookie minicamp and the offseason program, with fans likely seeing his first extended NFL action in summer practices and preseason games.
