Patriots Predicted To Draft 6-Foot-6, 23.3-Sack Pass Rusher To Replace K'Lavon Chaisson

TL;DR

The New England Patriots are predicted to draft Dani Dennis-Sutton, a 6-foot-6 pass rusher with 23.3 sacks, in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This move aims to fill their need for a pass rusher after selecting an offensive tackle in the first round.

Key points

Patriots need a pass rusher heading into the 2026 NFL Draft
New England selected offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th pick
Dani Dennis-Sutton has 23.3 sacks in college

Mentioned in this story

Penn State

New England Patriots

Penn State defensive lineman Dani Dennis-Sutton

Patriots Predicted To Draft 6-Foot-6, 23.3-Sack Pass Rusher To Replace K'Lavon Chaisson originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One of the biggest needs for the Patriots heading into the 2026 NFL Draft was a pass rusher, but New England didn't address that gap in the first round. Instead, it opted to take Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th pick.

New England may look to address its pass-rushing needs with its second pick at No. 63. Jacob Camenker of USA Today predicted that the Patriots will select Dani Dennis-Sutton, a pass rusher from Penn State, with that choice.

"The Patriots had just 35 sacks during the 2025 NFL season, tied for seventh-fewest in the league, and lost one of their top sack artists, K'Lavon Chaisson, in free agency," Camenker wrote on Friday.

"Dennis-Sutton is a thickly-built edge setter who should be a solid run defender from the jump. The 6-6, 256-pound edge rusher has the tools needed to continue growing as a pass rusher after logging 8.5 sacks in each of his final two seasons at Penn State."

Q&A

Who is Dani Dennis-Sutton and what are his stats?

Dani Dennis-Sutton is a pass rusher from Penn State known for his impressive 23.3 sacks during his college career.

Why did the Patriots select an offensive tackle instead of a pass rusher in the first round?

The Patriots chose to address their offensive line by selecting Utah's Caleb Lomu with the 28th pick, leaving their pass-rushing needs for later rounds.

What pick will the Patriots use to draft Dani Dennis-Sutton?

The Patriots are predicted to select Dani Dennis-Sutton with their second-round pick, which is No. 63 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.