How Do Day 3 Draft Picks Like Dani Dennis-Sutton, Jager Burton Fit Packers?

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers took care of their two biggest needs during the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse and defensive tackle Chris McClellan with their first two picks.

As Day 3 came into focus, Brian Gutekunst was armed with five picks to move around the board. With his first pick of the day, No. 120 of the fourth round, he simply sat and had Penn State edge defender Dani Dennis-Sutton fall into his lap.

Fourth Round: How Does Dani Dennis-Sutton Fit?

Last year, Gutekunst struck gold by trading two first-round picks for another former Penn State pass rusher, Micah Parsons. Now, Dennis-Sutton can learn from one of the best. From a size-speed perspective, he is an elite talent.

Dani Dennis-Sutton is a DE prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.96 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 9 out of 2105 DE from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/uLxgNBAJHQ pic.twitter.com/pLozoMwmif
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 22, 2026

Disruption is production in the NFL, and Dennis-Sutton was Penn State’s most disruptive player in 2025 with 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 12 tackles for losses. To add further to his value, he blocked three punts in 2025.

“It's an interesting fact that that happened,” Packers director of personnel John Wojciechowski said. “Of course, we graded him on being a defender first, and that just happened to be there. But, yes, it’s very intriguing, especially in this day and age, a lot more field goals seem to be getting blocked. So, he can help out there.”

That came on the heels of posting 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for losses and two forced fumbles to put himself on the map in 2024.

On the surface, the Packers are in good shape on the edge. When Micah Parsons returns from his ACL rehab, he’ll join the team as a starter across from Lukas Van Ness.

Beyond that? There are plenty of questions that need to be answered.

Is Van Ness going to get a long-term contract in Green Bay? Is he even going to get his fifth-year option exercised? After showing some potential during the second half of the 2024 season, Brenton Cox missed most of last season due to injury and will be entering his final season under contract. Are last year’s Day 3 picks, Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver, anything more than mid-round fodder who could flame out of the league within three years?

Instead of just hoping that one of those players emerges, Gutekunst acted by adding Dennis-Sutton to his pass-rush room.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler noted Dennis-Sutton’s quickness, power and “aggressive” hands. Aggression is something the Packers are going to be chasing this season from their defense if they’re taking any advice from Dennis-Sutton’s fellow Penn State alumnus.

“Be ready to do more than your job requires,” Parsons said at the team’s locker room cleanout.

We are in a new era of college football in which draft prospects frequently opt out of playing in games that are outside of the College Football Playoff.

Dennis-Sutton came back to Penn State for the 2025 season in an effort to chase a national championship, but the Nittany Lions ultimately fell well short of expectations. Dennis-Sutton had done his job, though. He was productive for his team and did what he could to put them in position to win games they ultimately were unable to accomplish.

With the season not meeting expectations, he could have joined the trend in opting out of Penn State’s bowl game. Instead, he chose to play, saying he loved football and could not possibly understand not playing.

“That’s what you’re looking for. Whether it be present day or in the past, those are the guys that usually progress and get themselves better, that’s a key factor in all these positions and players,” Wojciechowski said.

The Packers have noted in the modern era of college football they’re looking for guys who need football versus guys who want what the game can bring to them. Dennis-Sutton looks to be a guy who needs the game.

“I live and breathe football,” he said during his Zoom call with reporters. “It’s something I’ve done since I was a little boy. I’m just excited now to do it for the Green Bay Packers.”

Fifth Round: How Does Jager Burton Fit?

Kentucky Wildcats offensive lineman Jager Burton (62) celebrates after a touchdown against Florida. | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Kentucky’s Jager Burton is an interior offensive lineman who was “built to play center,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in his scouting report, and that’s where he found his home as a fifth-year center.

As a fifth-round pick, there is a path to him finding his way onto the field early in his career.

Sean Rhyan is the team’s starting center after receiving a three-year contract extension just before the start of free agency. Rhyan has only played eight games at center, taking over the job at midseason after Elgton Jenkins sustained a broken leg.

Rhyan played well enough in that cameo to earn a contract extension, but his history in Green Bay suggests the Packers will not hesitate to put another player in a competitive situation with him. Even last year, it looked like Rhyan was going to be on his way out of Green Bay after he was benched in favor of Anthony Belton at right guard before Thanksgiving.

Assuming the Packers give Rhyan some runway to start at center, Burton’s primary competition is Jacob Monk, a fifth-round pick in 2024 who got his first real playing time when he started the meaningless Week 18 game at Minnesota.

Brian Gutekunst was complimentary of Monk prior to the beginning of the NFL Draft, but he certainly is not guaranteed a roster spot.

Versatility, of course, is the name of the game in Green Bay. Burton’s 47 starts at Kentucky include 23 at left guard, nine at right guard and 15 at center.

Burton will get a chance to compete for a spot on the interior of the offensive line by cross -training next to returning blockers such as Travis Glover, Darian Kinnard, John Williams and Donovan Jennings.

“I don’t really have a preference” for a position, Burton said on a Zoom call with Packers reporters. “Just whatever is going to help the Packers win games. At the end of the day, that’s all I care about now.”

If nothing else, Burton’s intelligence shines through. An avid chess player, he has experience setting protections and other duties related to being the pivot man on the offensive line.

“Last year, I had the reins in terms of fixing protections, making our run IDs and things like that. That’s definitely something I’m super comfortable with,” Burton said. “Excited to get into the new playbook and start absorbing as much information as possible.”

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