Detroit Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson has been a thorn in the Green Bay Packers' side since entering the NFL in 2022. But what if a player with a similar profile suddenly resides in Titletown by way of fourth-round rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton?
There's a lot of excitement surrounding Dennis-Sutton's arrival in Green Bay. The Penn State standout has drawn some lofty comparisons, including his new NFC North rival. While he doesn't have the lofty draft pedigree of Hutchinson, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic sees parallels between the two.
Using his colleague at The Athletic's (subscription required) renowned prospect encyclopedia, Dane Brugler's "The Beast," Baumgardner spotlighted the "best value picks by position." Dennis-Sutton made the list, thanks to a combination of size, speed and explosiveness akin to Hutchinson's.
"Dennis-Sutton is still more a collection of tools than a polished product, but those tools are pretty outstanding," Baumgardner wrote. "The 6-foot-6, 256-pounder (with 33 1/2-inch arms) ran a 4.63 [40-yard dash] and posted a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-11 broad jump. Athletically, he shows some Aidan Hutchinson-like flashes. We'll see about the rest, though."
Packers' rookie pass-rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton draws lofty comparison to NFC North Rival Aidan Hutchinson
By the sound of it, the Packers may have found a diamond in the rough late in the 2026 draft. Dennis-Sutton had a second-/third-round grade and was 60th in Brugler's overall rankings, but managed to fall into Green Bay's lap at the No. 120 spot. Baumgardner also likens the 22-year-old to Hutchinson, at least from a frame standpoint.
Just because someone is built to dominate doesn't mean they will. Dennis-Sutton has a ways to go before his remarkable physical traits translate into All-Pro caliber game-wrecker status. He's a raw talent, as Baumgardner expressed, though the Hutchinson-esque measurables are undeniable.
For what it's worth, Dennis-Sutton posted better vertical/broad jump results and faster 40-time than Hutchinson during their respective evaluation processes. Again, that's not to say the Packers have a burgeoning franchise cornerstone on their hands, yet the resemblant attributes shouldn't be overlooked.
Even if Dennis-Sutton gives the Packers half of what Hutchinson provides in Detroit, that'd be a massive win. The latter was favored to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 before suffering a season-ending broken fibula and tibia, and was a finalist in 2025.
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