Acme Packing Company
Today we take an in-depth look at Packers rookie defensive end Barryn Sorrell.
The Green Bay Packers made a strategic move in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Texas defensive end Barryn Sorrell, a dynamic and versatile pass rusher with the potential to become a key contributor in Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme.
Measuring in at 6’3” and 256 pounds, Sorrell brings an intriguing blend of athleticism, scheme versatility, and untapped potential to a Packers defense looking to bolster its pass rush and run stopping capabilities.
This pick represents excellent value for Green Bay, as Sorrell was projected by many analysts as a Day 2 talent who slipped into the fourth round due to some inconsistencies in his game. However, his explosiveness, motor, and ability to play in multiple fronts make him a perfect developmental piece for the Packers’ defensive line.
Barryn Sorrell was a three year starter at Texas, where he developed into one of the most disruptive edge defenders in the Big 12. Over his collegiate career, he accumulated 18.5 sacks, 29.5 tackles for loss, and 4 forced fumbles, showcasing his ability to be a gamechanger in critical moments.
Sorrell’s athletic testing numbers at the NFL Combine solidified his status as a high upside prospect:
His stats are decent too.
Sorrell doesn’t have an explosive movement out of his stance so he relies on his ability to disrupt the backfield with a variety of pass rush moves. He can work in a variety of swipe/rip moves, has the ability to knock blockers off balance with his contact, and is aggressive punching to get around the edge.
In a 2024 midseason game against Arkansas, Sorrell consistently beat the left tackle off the snap. On a 2nd-and-1 in the first quarter, he bull-rushed the tackle head up and disrupted the throw enough that the timing was off, forcing an errant throw that resulted in an interception.
Here versus Clemson in the College Football Playoff first round, Sorrell shows off a nice two-hand swipe and rip combo to beat the left tackle around the edge. The swipe gets the tackle to react, takes him off balance, and allows Sorrell to dip his inside arm under the flailing reach to rip underneath and beat the blocker.
He registered 49 pressures last season according to Pro Football Focus and had eight in one game versus Vanderbilt. In addition to swipe/rip moves, he’s able to win inside by knocking the blocker off balance and shedding to get penetration up the middle.
On his pass rush rep here, he shoots inside to rush the B-gap, knocks the inside arm of the blocker up and takes him off balance with this attack. He flushed the quarterback out of the pocket as a result.
This is a good rep that shows that as a 3-4 defensive end in most of...
