Paul Bretl | 4/28/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Texas defensive end Barryn Sorrell became an instant fan favorite among Packers fans after the team selected him.
Sorrell wasn’t going to be a first-round draft pick, so he was not on the list of invitees who sat in the green room on Thursday evening. However, a fan of the NFL and the draft for as long as he can remember, Sorrell wanted to experience the event in person.
During Round 1, Sorrell watched the draft from his hotel room with family. Then on Day 2, he sat backstage in the green room, anticipating that his name would be called, but it never was. On Saturday, Sorrell faced a decision: head back home or stick around to hear his name called. Sorrell decided to stay in Green Bay one more day, and it was well worth it.
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In the Packers’ war room, where Brian Gutekunst and Co. watch the draft unfold and make their selections, they had no idea that when they drafted Sorrell, he was on site. Commissioner Roger Goodell typically only announces the first-round draft picks, but with Sorrell backstage, he made an exception. After his name was called, Sorrell emerged onto the stage to give Goodell that big hug and to be greeted by the fan base for the first time.
“What a cool moment that was,” said Packers Director of Football Operations Milt Hendrickson. “We did not know he was here, in the sense that wasn’t the reason we picked him. Some things are just meant to be, and it was a pretty cool moment both for him and I think for the organization as well. Really love what he brings both as a human being, just the ruggedness and physicality this guy plays with. If you define him, I just say he’s a football player. He’s going to make us better. He’s going to make that room better.”
From there, Sorrell made his way through the crowd and stood atop a platform in the middle of the sea of people while he chanted “Go Pack Go” with the fans. Sorrell then made his way into the Lambeau Field bowl, where more fans awaited him and he made his first Lambeau Leap.
After each draft pick is made, we in the media have the opportunity to speak to each draftee over the phone. But with Sorrell in Green Bay, he made his way to the podium in the media auditorium.
Sorrell described the previous three days and what this whirlwind experience had been like. In the front row as he fielded questions were his family, whom Sorrell wanted to make sure they too got to experience everything with him. As Sorrell described, fighting back tears, a lot of sacrifices were made by his family throughout the years so that he could have the opportunity to hear his name called in the NFL draft.
“They sacrificed so much for me to be — they sacrificed so much for me to be here, and I’m just happy that I get to share this opportunity with them because they deserve it,” Sorrell said. “They deserve it so much.”
On the field, Sorrell brings that typical bigger-bodied presence to the defensive end position that we know the Packers’ covet. And like many draft picks before him, Sorrell was a Senior Bowl participant and standout performer, where Packers’ defensive quality control coach, Wendel Davis, was one of his coaches during that week.
Sorrell’s pass rush production increased each season at Texas, going from 33 pressures in 2022 to 39 in 2023, to a career-high 49 pressures this past season, which included nine sacks as well, according to PFF. For some context, those 49 pressures ranked as the 18th most among all defensive ends.
Sorrell has also proven to be stout against the run, another important element for the Packers as they evaluate the defensive end position. He brings an added level of versatility to the Packers’ front as well, having lined up across multiple gaps during his time at Texas.
“First of all, exceptionally durable,” said Gutekunst of Sorrell. “He’s been productive for multiple years at Texas. He’s strong, he’s wired exactly the way. Very, very smart, very, very technique sound, he’s got really strong hands to knock blockers off balance and then his ability to finish this year – he improved every year – but this year I thought he really showed an ability to finish that he took his game to a different level.
“But he’s been improving the entire time. When you talk to the people at Texas who do such a good job down there developing players, he was first class. They couldn’t say enough good things about him. We were pretty excited to turn that one in.”
Sorrell is ready to be a “sponge,” as he put it, and learn from Rashan Gary, a player who has a similar body type to Sorrell and someone whom Sorrell has watched tape of over the years, trying to learn and “emulate” how Gary operates as a pass rusher.
However, Sorrell also made it clear that he is ready to add to this Packers’ defense as well. The pass rush unit, specifically, is on the hunt for more consistency in 2025.
As Sorrell described, the Packers are getting a leader, a winner, and a competitor, but he chose not to go into detail about the specifics of what he can provide on the field. Instead, he’s going to get to work and show everyone what he can add.
“For me, I’m going to say I’m a leader, I’m a winner and I’m a competitor,” said Sorrell. “I’ve shown that in my time at Texas, just developing, and I feel like that’s the most important thing about a football player. I could say specifically and go on and on about the skills and all this and all that, but I’d rather just show you, and I’m just going to speak about my personality and I’m ready to get to work.”