One of the most unique stories from the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay will forever be that of Texas edge rusher Barryn Sorrell staying in the green room for Day 3, as he wanted to hear his name called and walk the stage, no matter how late he was picked. Not only did he get his draft moment, but it ended up being in front of the fans of the team that drafted him, the Green Bay Packers. As a result of his unique draft day experience, being immediately embraced with cheers and open arms by his new fans, Sorrell seemed like he was ready to run through a brick wall for the Packers right then and there. So far through training camp and preseason, it looks like he's doing exactly that. 

Saturday night against the Jets, Sorrell was one of the only bright spots in what head coach Matt LaFleur called a "sloppy" and "humbling" experience. He played 39 snaps total, with 22 of those snaps being on the pass rush. Sorrell was credited with two QB pressures, and his 28.6% pass rush win rate was 11th among pass rushers in week 1 of the preseason.  

Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley was impressed with Sorrell's improvement throughout the game. He stated that when he saw Sorrell make mistakes, he would correct them very quickly. It is a rarity for a rookie player to be doing that so soon in their career. Hafley went on to hint that while Sorrell primarily lined up as a traditional edge rusher, he may look to utilize his versatility in different areas, as he has shown potential to be ahead of the learning curve and may see more action than anticipated. 

We all know how the Packers' pass rush fared last season. Not good enough by any means. Which was why it was a surprise the team didn't invest a free agent or any high draft capital on the pass rush. It was obvious they were banking on an improvement from Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, JJ Enagbare, and Brenton Cox. While they may not have spent high draft capital on an edge rusher, they grabbed Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round, and he's already looking like he could be a steal if he continues as he has. 

In practice and Saturday's game, Sorrell has shown off his unique athleticism for someone of his size.  He's shown an ability to use his quickness to simply side-step block attempts en route to the Quarterback and has used his hands very well to avoid letting offensive linemen get a hold of him early out of the gate. Not only has his pass-rushing technique looked good, but his presence up against the run game has been noticeable as well. Sorrell has shown off his skill in shedding blocks to quickly wrap up the ball carrier, and doesn't over-pursue. He shows patience, staying in his gap and not letting a running back get around him without getting his hands on them. 

Sorrell started training camp in what could be described as a normal mid-late round rookie role, running with the 3's, but it didn't take long at all for the coaching staff to acknowledge his skill and hard work, bringing him up to running with the 2's. Like with any rookie, there will still be a bit of a learning curve for Barryn Sorrell. Any flashes now could be good signs of future success, but they won't just be a given. But his stock in definitely trending upward. 

Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness will likely be the top 2 pass rushers heading into the season. Enagbare and Brenton Cox are the most likely third and fourth options, but if his camp and preseason continue as they have, Barryn Sorrell could find himself in a consistent rotation with those two for defensive snaps in 2025. 

The Packers need relentless pass rushers to improve what was a poor showing last season. Barryn Sorrell's drive can help provide that extra spark this season.