Do the New York Giants need to draft an edge defender in 2026? It seems unlikely as the off-season dawns, but personnel and scheme can both shift over the course of the process.
If the Giants find themselves in need of a more traditional defensive end, they could look at Dani Dennis-Sutton out of Penn State. Dennis-Sutton should already be a familiar face to the Giants after scouting Abdul Carter in 2025 and Theo Johnson in 2024, and they should already have a pretty good idea of who he is as a player.
The question is whether who Dennis-Sutton is will fit what the Giants want to do on defense in 2026.
Prospect: Dani Dennis-Sutton (33)
Games Watched: vs. Nevada (2025), vs. Ohio State (2025), vs. Indiana (2025), vs. Nebraska (2025)
Red Flags: none
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 265 pounds
Strengths
Best traits
- Size
- Length
- Play strength
- Hand usage
- Competitive toughness
Dennis-Sutton is a good-sized and athletic edge defender who brings pro-ready play strength and technique to the NFL.
Dennis-Sutton has near-prototypical size for a 4-3 defensive end at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, while also having enough athleticism to play from a 2-point stance and even drop into zone coverage on occasion. He aligns at both left and right defensive end in Penn State’s defense and is a disciplined defender. He typically understands his assignment, doesn’t (usually) fall for misdirection, and is disciplined in defending read-option plays. His play strength and discipline also allows him to set a firm edge in the run game and typically holds up well.
He’s an experienced defender, having played in 55 games at Penn State and is a good technician for a college prospect. Dennis-Sutton already has a pretty complete pass rush toolkit and is able to mix finesse and power moves. He understands how to attack blockers’ hands with club, rip, and swipe moves, as well as use his natural power with bull rushes or long-arm moves.
Dennis-Sutton is a relatively linear player, but he does have good speed in the open field when chasing down ball carriers (or accelerating to sack the quarterback). He generally times the snap well and has adequate explosiveness. His get-off is enough to stress blockers and gain ground into the backfield with his second and third steps. He won’t take over a game, however he’s disruptive and consistent with 13.0 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 2024, and 12.0, 8.5, and 3 in 2025.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Agility
- Lower body flexibility
- Ankle mobility (bend)
Dennis-Sutton’s greatest weakness is a general lack of fluidity or flexibility in his lower body. Most notably, he has particularly stiff ankles, which impacts several areas of his game.
He struggles to keep his cleats planted in the turf as he rushes off the edge, either forcing him to take wider paths to the quarterback (and widening the B-gap) or forcing him to rush upright, sacrificing his leverage. Dennis-Sutton is a powerful player, but losing his leverage compromises that play strength and also exposes his chest plate to blockers. That, in turn, leads to him struggling to get off blocks efficiently and either slows his initial rush or compromises his pursuit.
His lower body stiffness also compromises his agility as a defender. Dennis-Sutton struggles to change direction in space and can often miss opportunities to make sacks, tackles, or plays on the ball because he simply can’t change direction quickly enough.
Finally, Dennis-Sutton can be a bit slow to redirect in pursuit. Not due to a lack of hustle or competitive toughness, though it does seem as though he can be a bit slow to track the ball in the backfield. There’s occasionally a slight delay between the ball carrier changing direction – or the ball being handed off – and Dennis-Sutton getting in pursuit.
Game Tape
(Dennis-Sutton is the Penn State edge defender wearing long pants, white sleeves on his forearms, and number 33)
Projection
Dani Dennis-Sutton projects as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense or an edge defender in a more modern “multiple” defense. Dennis-Sutton would probably be best served as a high-snap third edge defender in an active rotation, however a team could probably feel comfortable if he is in a starting role.
Dennis-Sutton’s lack of fluidity and agility will likely limit his upside as a pass rusher, and he may need to take advantage of opportunities in short-yardage situations early in his career. However, his competitive toughness and technique should give coaches confidence in him relatively early, and he should carve out a healthy role as a rookie.
Does he fit the Giants? Possibly, depending on scheme
Final Word: A late Day 2 value
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