2026 NFL Prospect Profile: Penn State’s Edge Rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton

Dani Dennis-Sutton made a splash upon arriving in Happy Valley. He played immediately as a freshman but continued to mature as a player and NFL prospect over the next several seasons. The 2024 campaign was Dennis-Sutton’s true breakout year, where he took the reins as a full-time starter along the Nittany Lion defensive line and didn’t disappoint. 

He plays well against the run, flashing power and the ability to anchor down and seal the edge against offensive linemen while excelling in passing downs as an edge rusher. He gets off the edge when rushing the quarterback at a near-elite level, and he’s got length and speed enough to make the perimeter tackles. 

Strengths

Dennis-Sutton is the perfect size for an NFL edge rusher, standing 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at 265 pounds. He’s really built to have it all: the length to make tackles on the edge and knock down balls; an explosive first step to get to the corner on a blocker; and he’s strong enough to hunker down and make plays in the running game. 

He’s a versatile asset, playing both as a stand-up edge rusher or from a three-point stance as a rush defender. He stunts well and can play in multiple schemes, which will endear him to defensive coordinators at the next level. And coaches and players sing his praises as a leader and good locker room guy. 

Weaknesses

Dennis-Sutton isn’t without areas in need of improvement before next year’s draft. He will need to develop better pass-rushing techniques and not just rely on his athleticism and burst to get after the quarterback. And there have been question marks about his overall conditioning, which can be corrected in the weight room. Lastly, scouts will want Dennis-Sutton to play more consistently this year as he sometimes disappears during games. 

Conclusion 

There is no doubt that Dani Dennis-Sutton possesses first-round talent. He’s got the right size, length, athleticism, and positional flexibility that all teams want in their starting edge rushers. If he can add some rushing moves and improve his technique, he will go somewhere at the end of round one. In a league starved for talent on the defensive edge, Dennis-Sutton has too much potential to slip much farther than that.