'Special Since Birth': Father of Green Bay Packers’ 4th Round Pick Wants World To Know Son’s Talent

Four picks down, four picks to go. After using their first three selections on an offensive lineman and two receivers, including first-rounder Matthew Golden, the Green Bay Packers chose edge rusher Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round on Saturday. Last season, the 6’3, 246-pound Texas senior recorded six sacks and 11 tackles for loss playing in each of his team’s 16 games as the Longhorns reached the national semifinal versus Ohio State.

Now he has a chance to shine on the NFL stage with the Packers. Remaining in Green Bay despite being passed on in the first three rounds, Sorrell was amped when Roger Goodell read his name this afternoon–and so was his family. Kyle Malzhan of WFRV-TV approached Sorrell’s parents as they walked into Lambeau Field in the aftermath of the celebration.

Green Bay Packers and Barryn Sorrell Mutually Thrilled To Join Forces

“I just stopped crying,” Sorrell’s mom told Malzhan. “Now you’re trying to get me to start again.” Heading into Day 3 of the NFL draft, Sorrell was ranked third among available players by The Draft Network’s Daniel Harms. Despite his talent, he fell all the way to the Packers at pick #124. In need of a pass rusher, Green Bay should be delighted to get him.

“I’m just grateful, that’s all I can tell you,” his mom continued. “So grateful. More than anything, the fact that we were here. We came to Green Bay, we were in the green room yesterday. We didn’t hear our name like we wanted to, but nonetheless came back again today.”

Rewarded for their patience, the Sorrell family was in high spirits during the trek into the son’s new home field. “Green Bay fans gonna see that,” his father said of Sorrell’s choice to remain in the city while team after team passed him by. “Let me tell y’all something. He’s been special since birth. Special since birth, remember that.”

Newest Addition Boosts Pass Rush with Youthful Strength

Rostering a special rusher already in ’24 rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, the Packers hope that Sorrell can fortify that area after Green Bay whiffed on free agent or trade opportunities this offseason. At defensive end, six-year pro Rashan Gary is solid but overpaid (7.5 sacks last season while making $24 million). The team could use some extra troops to make passers uncomfortable.

Sorrell’s steady improvement and impressive strength are promising indicators of a potential NFL contributor. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky provides an in-depth review of Green Bay’s fourth round selection:

Sorrell improved his pressure rate every year since he became a starter in 2022, culminating with a 12.5% pressure rate last season (which was ninth in the SEC). It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him play inside as well. He was one of four SEC players last season with at least 400 snaps at defensive end and 100 snaps at defensive tackle. His 28 reps in the bench press at the combine, which was tied for second among defensive ends/edge rushers, shows he has the strength to play inside as well.

Of course, fourth-round picks–much less late fourth-rounders like Sorrell, slighted 21 times before the Packers called his number–are hardly guaranteed success. Getting him as late as they did, though, they almost surely snagged some value. Fans should be as excited about Sorrell as he is about joining the Packers; the pick is a win for both sides. As his mom quipped in parting, “#GoPackgo.”