The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2026 season without their best player. Defensive end Micah Parsons is rehabbing his way back from a torn ACL and told reporters in June that he won't return until at least October.
He expressed that he has a hard nine-month rule in place before he takes the field again, but that means he'll be sidelined for the first four weeks of the regular season at minimum. The Packers know they will need everyone on the defensive line to step up.
While many people are looking at Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell as the ones who should stand up, rookie defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton has the pathway to being a true contributor from day 1. Especially since he's been someone who's stood out already.
In an article written by ESPN's Rob Demovsky, he revealed Dennis-Sutton has made plays in OTAs and minicamp.
"Rookie fourth-round pick Dani Dennis-Sutton flashed some pass rush ability in the non-padded offseason practices."
And while it matters more for a defensive lineman when pads come on, the fact that Dennis-Sutton is standing out in practice is a positive sign.
Packers rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton is quietly set up for a huge role right away
Dennis-Sutton was drafted in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but if he has a strong summer, he can easily carve out a role for himself. Van Ness was limited to nine games last season, but he still only managed to log 1.5 sacks and seven QB hits. Sorrell is another name that has gained steam this offseason, yet last season he had 1.5 sacks and three QB hits.
No one has their spot locked in the edge room, and if Dennis-Sutton continues to turn heads during camp and preseason, the staff won't have any other choice but to make him a real option in the defensive line rotation.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler gave him a 2nd-3rd round grade, so the fact that Green Bay got him in the fourth round feels like tremendous value. The Penn State product can win with a combo of speed and power. He has strong and active hands that allow him to shed past offensive linemen. Dennis-Sutton can also win several moves, including chops, swim, and rip moves.
In 55 games with the Nittany Lions, he had 127 total tackles, 34.5 TFLs, 23.5 sacks, and even two interceptions. He was able to log 8.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons to close out his college career. While he needs to improve as a run defender, Dennis-Sutton has the traits to get after the quarterback.
There will be snaps up for grabs along the defensive line, and there's a world where Dennis-Sutton takes control of that opportunity. The rest test starts in a couple of weeks, and if he shows out then, fans should expect to see the Delaware native in the fold while they wait for Parsons to return, giving them another force to lean on off the edge.
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