Barryn Sorrell waited … and waited … and waited.
The Texas defensive end spent 72 hours in Green Bay waiting to hear his name called during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Finally, after the Packers used a fourth round draft pick on Sorrell Saturday, he broke down and wept when addressing the state media.
When Sorrell stopped crying, he talked about his journey and his joyous walk across the draft stage where euphoric Packer fans celebrated him.
“Man, just an unreal feeling,” Sorrell said. “I really don’t have any words to describe it. It’s definitely going to be one of the best memories I’ve had in my life. This day has been great. Just the energy that these fans bring.
“You could tell just how important it is out here and obviously walking through here and seeing the Vince Lombardi trophies around here. Man, there’s definitely something special going on here. So I’m just happy to be part of this.
Sorrell was one of 16 players that sat in the green room this weekend — an area off the stage where potential draftees wait to hear their name called. Sorrell wasn’t expecting to be a first round pick, but came to the draft anyway.
“I’ve been a fan of this league for a really long time,” said the 6-foot-3, 256-pound Sorrell. “So watching this, watching the experience, watching the draft … like this is somewhere that I want to be when it’s all said and done,”
Sorrell came to Green Bay Wednesday and watched Thursday’s first round with several NFL legends back at his hotel. He went to the green room Friday, but wasn’t selected in either the second or third round.
“I just had to switch that perspective and realize that it’s a blessing to even be there,” Sorrell said of being in the green room. “Not everybody gets drafted and definitely not a lot of people go to the green room. So, just grateful for the opportunity.”
Sorrell was even happier when he heard his name called Saturday.
The Packers made him the 124th selection overall and he rejoiced on stage in front of another big crowd outside of Packer headquarters. Sorrell then went to Lambeau Field and did a Lambeau leap in front of a few thousand fans.
“Just walking out on the field I could feel the energy,” Sorrell said. “I could feel the fans’ energy and I’m just ready to reciprocate that on game day. I’m ready to come here and make that type of impact. And then the Lambeau Leap, man, it’s just the energy and the way they embrace it. Man, that was a great experience.”
Now, Sorrell and the Packers hope that fun can continue.
Sorrell had 15.5 sacks during his four years with the Longhorns. He also had 20.5 tackles for loss and 132 total tackles.
Sorrell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, has a 34-inch vertical and did 28 reps on the 225-pound bench press.
The Packers tied for seventh in the NFL in sacks in 2024 with 45, but their pass rush was inconsistent.
Rashan Gary made the Pro Bowl in 2024, but many considered his year a disappointment. Gary led the Packers with 7.5 sacks and tied for second with 9.0 tackles for loss, but his play was up and down.
Gary traditionally ranks among the league-leaders in pressures. In 90 career games, though, he has just 39.0 sacks — one sack every 2.31 contests. The bottom line is he just doesn’t finish enough.
Lukas Van Ness, the Packers’ first round pick in 2023, had just three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss last year. He now faces a critical Year 3.
Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox add depth — and now, so does Sorrell.
“I’m a winner and I’m a competitor,” Sorell said. “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.”
Now that his wait has ended.
