Don’t worry, Jeff Hafley, pass-rushing help is on the way. The Green Bay Packers finally went defense in this year’s draft—selecting Texas edge rusher Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round with the 124th pick. Sorrell is the second former Longhorn taken by the Packers, joining first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden.
Sorrell was a three-year starter at Texas, who showed improvement in each season. He finished his college career with 15.5 sacks and posted 26 tackles for loss. 2024 was his best season, totaling a career-high 6.0 sacks and leading the Longhorn defense with 49 pressures.
Green Bay came into the draft needing to improve their four-man rush, and Sorrell will be able to compete for snaps right away. He has powerful hands that allow him to disengage from blockers and get into the backfield. As a run defender, he plays with plenty of effort, but he doesn’t win consistently at the point of attack. Sorrell may be a situational pass rusher early on, but he could eventually develop into an every-down player.
Here’s what prominent draft analysts had to say about Sorrell during the pre-draft process:
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide)
A three-year starter at Texas, Sorrell lined up primarily on the edge (five-/six-technique) in defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s front. A dependable player over his 40 starts in Austin, he showed gradual improvements each season and didn’t receive enough credit in 2024 for his impact on Texas’ third-ranked defense. As a pass rusher, Sorrell flashes bully hands and an aggressive snatch attack (which became his signature move), locking out and pulling the balance of blockers away from them (led Texas with 49 pressures in 2024, despite finishing fourth on the team in sacks). He is relentless in the run game, but he will lose contain against cutback runs and needs to play with better gear-down to eliminate missed tackles in pursuit. Overall, Sorrell passes the eye test and the foundation of his game is power, which sets up different ways for him to win, although his average short-area athleticism might limit the frequency of those wins against NFL blockers. His makeup and motor will give him a chance to carve out a role for a 4-3 scheme.
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Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Sorrell’s measurables and speed won’t be eye-catching, but he’s very consistent and plays with good technique. He can play up or down, but might be targeted as a 3-4 outside ‘backer due to a lack of length. He plays with adequate power at the point and can work around blocks and into the backfield. Sorrell’s rush lacks speed and power but he wins with his hands and has an above-average feel for creating entry points with positioning and body turn. He doesn’t have high-end traits, but he’s productive and reliable. Sorrell could become an average starter in time.
The Draft Network
Barryn Sorrell enters the NFL draft as one of the best edge rushers in the 2025 class. He capped off his career at Texas with his most productive season in terms of sacks and tackles, recording 6 sacks and 44 tackles on the year. Sorrell is a strong and explosive edge rusher who wins by utilizing power and a relentless motor. At Texas, Sorrell also showcased his versatility, serving in several different roles for the Longhorn defense. He is a naturally disruptive pass rusher who works through the whistle on every rep and will bring the right mentality to an NFL defense.
In the run game, Sorrell is a high-effort player who believes he is never out of the play and will chase the ball down the backside if necessary. He can also serve as a quick penetrator, shooting gaps and making plays in the backfield.
Sorrell’s attitude directly translates into his pass-rushing game as well. He attacks opposing linemen with long and relentless hand fighting to apply outside edge pressure on quarterbacks. It’s rare to find players who can consistently win on the edge, especially against Power Five linemen. Sorrell has the athletic and physical profile to not only be an outside rusher but also to line up inside the tackles and even stretch out into coverage as a curl-flat zone player, showcasing just how versatile he can be for a defensive front.
The improvements in Sorrell’s game come in two main areas. The first is the run game. Sorrell is a high-collision player and will engage offensive linemen to set the line of scrimmage, but there are reps where he takes too long to disengage from them. The other area that needs improvement is his pass-rush repertoire. Sorrell appears to have all the physical tools to be a plus-level pass rusher in the NFL, but he needs to add more moves to his pass-rush package to give him more ways to beat offensive linemen, which should immediately improve his sack numbers.
For Sorrell, he has every quality needed to be a day-one starter in the NFL. His talent and on-field demeanor garner serious attention, but proving his abilities as a consistent down-to-down defender will take his game to the next level and give him the opportunity to become one of the more impactful edge rushers in the NFL.
Bleacher Report Scouting Department
Barryn Sorrell is a solid prospect as an edge-rusher who gained some steam with his performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. He was named the American Team’s top defensive lineman in Mobile and posted a top-10 athleticism score (78) among edge defenders in Indianapolis, per Next Gen Stats.
Sorrell primarily wins as a pass-rusher with solid use of hands. He has active hands, especially after contact, to “defeat the hands, defeat the man” and win around the edge. He pairs that with a flexible lower body to help corner at the top of the rush.
However, the former Longhorn doesn’t have a go-to move outside of working the offensive tackle’s hands and needs to rush with a better plan to develop some countermoves.
Sorrell is going to have a tough time becoming an every-down player in the NFL. He isn’t physical at the point of attack, has subpar block recognition and struggles to hold his ground when setting the edge. NFL offensive linemen and good blocking tight ends will give him trouble as a run defender.
Overall, the former Longhorn has good athletic testing numbers and hands as a pass-rusher to be a decent developmental prospect in the NFL. He may only be a third-down rusher, but he should be able to carve out a role in a defensive line rotation.
Kyle Crabbs, 33rd Team
Texas Longhorns edge defender Barryn Sorrell projects as a successful piece of a defensive line rotation at the NFL level. He appears to have the baseline skills of an early-down defender, thanks to his active hands and good leverage to the play side, while also sporting good motor as a second-effort pass rusher.
He’s an instinctive player who processes block keys well and boasts a good reflexive shedding technique. You do wish he offered an extra gear of explosiveness to be a viable impact player, but he should be a high-floor defender who has some more room for production in a different scheme.
