Can Dani Dennis-Sutton Become a Starting Edge Defender for the Commanders?

Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE
School: Penn State | Conference: Big Ten
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6’5” / 268 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 2nd-3rd Round
Player Comparison: Montez Sweat

College Statistics

Defense & Fumbles Table

						Tackles					Def Interceptions					Fumbles
Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Solo	Ast	Comb	TFL	Sk	Int	Yds	Avg	IntTD	PD	FR	Yds	FRTD	FF	Awards
2022*	Penn State	Big Ten	FR	DE	13	11	6	17	3.5	3.0	1	20	20.0	0	1	0	0	0	0
2023*	Penn State	Big Ten	SO	DE	13	17	9	26	6.0	3.5	0	0		0	1	1	0	0	2
2024*	Penn State	Big Ten	JR	DE	16	24	18	42	13.0	8.5	1	0	0.0	0	3	1	1	0	2
2025*	Penn State	Big Ten	SR	DE	13	26	16	42	12.0	8.5	0	0		0	3	0	0	0	3
Career					55	78	49	127	34.5	23.5	2	20	10.0	0	8	2	1	0	7

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 2/4/2026.

Player Overview

Dani Dennis-Sutton was a standout athlete in high school in track, basketball, and football. To get a sense of speed, he was a sprinter that ran the 100 meters in 11.61 seconds. That translated to the football field where Dennis-Sutton helped McDonogh School in Maryland to a 11-1 record as a sophomore.

Despite a cancelled junior season and a senior year where experienced an injury, he was a five-star recruit and the top recruit out of Maryland that chose Penn State over the likes of Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Michigan.

It didn’t take long for Dennis-Sutton to get on the field and make an impact. On a team with Adisa Isaac, Chop Robinson, and Abdul Carter; Dennis-Sutton played in every game as a true freshman in 2022 and accumulated respectable stats in limited snaps. He played in each game with three starts as a sophomore, earning All Big-Ten honors by the season’s end. As a junior, he cemented his role as starting defensive end, accumulating career highs in sacks and tackles for loss. In a senior season where things fell apart for the Nittany Lions, Dennis-Sutton was a fairly consistent force, leading the team in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles. He finished his career with another All Big-Ten selection in 2025.

Strengths

• Great size, length, and athleticism for the position
• Long strides allow him to get into the backfield quickly
• Flashes good hand usage and an effective spin move
• Good against the run; sets the edge and uses length to get off blocks and make plays
• High-motor player that always pursues the ball
• Special teams value with three blocked punts in 2025

Weaknesses

• Has power, but needs to utilize it more in his game
• Lacks flexibility to bend around the corner and flatten to the quarterback
• Can be too reliant on speed rushes around the outside of tackles
• Pass rushes can lack creativity and become predictable
• Can struggle keeping his pad level low

Let’s See His Work

How He Fits on the Commanders

The Commanders need to find a reliable pass rusher to improve their defense. While Dorance Armstrong has been effective, he’ll be returning from a knee injury. Re-signing Jacob Martin after a productive season would be a good idea to provide depth at the position along with a healthy Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Even if they can find a starter at the position in free agency, they should still consider drafting a player to be a future starter at the position.

With impressive size and speed for the position, Dani Dennis-Sutton is an intriguing prospect for the Commanders. The physical traits and motor can’t be taught. He does need to work on having a better rush plan more consistently instead of relying on his physical gifts. His best position is a defensive end in a 4-3, but with his athleticism, Dennis-Sutton might be versatile enough to play OLB in a 3-4 where he may need to drop into coverage. If the Commanders decide to draft a position other than an edge defender with their first pick, Dennis-Sutton is a player that might be available in the third round that could make an impact immediately and eventually become a starter for the Commanders.