Dani Dennis-Sutton DE/EDGE Penn State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #33 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/06/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.63 seconds (90%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.7 DOB: 12/23/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #33 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 03/06/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.63 seconds (90%*) | |
| Age: 22.7 DOB: 12/23/2003 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 84.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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56% |
| Pass Rush: |
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87% |
| Run Defense: |
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85% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#84
Position rank:
#20 (DL)
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| College Games: 54 College Snaps: 1898 | ||
ESPN RATING: 85/100
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247 RATING: 98/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Baron - Miami |
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90% |
| Myjai Sanders - Cincinnati |
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84% |
| JT Tuimoloau - Ohio State |
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82% |
Drafted: ROUND: 4 - Pick Number: 120 (GB)
Draft Profile: Bio
Dani Dennis-Sutton came to Penn State from McDonogh School in Maryland as one of the top edge rushers in the 2022 recruiting class, earning five-star ratings from both Rivals and 247Sports. He was a two-time captain and All-American Bowl selection who also lettered in basketball and track, though COVID-19 wiped out his junior season and a dislocated elbow limited his senior year.Dennis-Sutton made an immediate mark as a true freshman, recording three sacks and an interception across 13 games to earn ESPN True Freshman All-American honors. A rotational sophomore year produced 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks before his breakout in 2024, when he started all 16 games opposite Abdul Carter and tallied 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss during Penn State's playoff run.
His senior season matched that output with 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 12 tackles for loss while leading the Big Ten in forced fumbles. Dennis-Sutton finished his career with 127 tackles, 23.5 sacks, 34.5 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles across 54 games. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors three straight years and was invited to the Senior Bowl.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Heavy hands create immediate disruption at the point of attack against both run and pass.
- Long arms let him control blockers and keep them from reaching his chest plate.
- Sets a firm edge against the run and holds ground versus double teams without giving ground easily.
- Bull rush has real force when he drops his pads and drives through contact.
- Combine workout was historic for his size, posting top-tier explosion and agility marks among all DEs tested.
- Lower-body power shows up in testing and on tape when he gets downhill or closes on scrambling quarterbacks.
- Agility numbers suggest untapped pass rush potential that has not consistently translated to game film yet.
- Competitive effort shows up late in games and in postseason moments, with four sacks across two playoff games.
- Versatile enough to handle multiple alignments and occasional shallow zone drops without confusion.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- First step lacks the suddenness to threaten tackles before they can get set.
- Tight hips limit his ability to bend and flatten around the arc on speed rushes.
- Pad level stays elevated too often, giving blockers easy access to his chest.
- Rush plan gets predictable; needs a deeper counter repertoire beyond the bull rush.
- Missed tackle numbers are a concern, particularly against shifty runners in space.
- Penalty totals need cleaning up, with roughing calls popping up too frequently.
Scouting Report: Summary
Dennis-Sutton's combine performance changed the calculus on this evaluation. His explosion and agility numbers ranked among the best ever recorded for a defensive end his size, and that kind of athletic profile gives NFL defensive line coaches something real to work with. The tape does not consistently show that same athlete, but the raw tools are verified now, and history says players with this kind of physical ceiling sometimes take a developmental leap once they get into a full-time NFL strength and pass rush program. That possibility has to factor into any honest projection.On tape right now, his clearest value is as an early-down run defender in a gap-control scheme. He sets edges, stacks blockers with his hands, and stays disciplined with his gap responsibility. He can two-gap in odd fronts where length and power matter more than get-off speed, and he holds up well enough against the run to earn snaps from day one. The bull rush generates pocket pressure, and his inside spin flashes enough to suggest a second move is developing. But his stiff lower half limits consistent speed-to-power conversion around the arc, and NFL tackles with good anchors will force him into technical fights where his counter game is still thin.
The floor here is a dependable rotational end who contributes on early downs and gives you honest effort every snap. The ceiling, if the combine athleticism starts showing up more consistently in games, is a defensive end who can rush the passer in volume and justify a bigger role. How quickly he develops counters and learns to use that tested explosiveness on every snap will separate those two outcomes.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Dani Dennis-Sutton percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Dani Dennis-Sutton (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
75.1
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
22.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.