Story by
Warren Brinson's rookie stats show pass rush potential for Packers
- Story by
- Warren Brinson's rookie stats show pass rush potential for Packers
Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Warren Brinson saw the field plenty as a rookie, especially for a sixth-round pick, playing nearly 300 defensive snaps in his first season as a pro.
That was despite not making his NFL debut until Week 6. He did himself justice and was no liability for the Packers defense despite his humble draft status, giving credence to the idea that he could have been drafted earlier, having performed well for Georgia during his college years.
Advertisement
Brinson's percentile ranks among defensive tackles across the league show the impact he was able to have as a rookie.
Warren Brinson percentile ranks among NFL defensive tackles 2025
What stands out the most in a positive sense is Brinson's performance as a pass rusher.
He put up 14 pressures in just 173 pass rush snaps, showing a good level of disruption. Brinson ranked 18th among 121 eligible defensive tackles in pass rush win rate and led all rookies who played enough snaps to qualify. When facing true pass sets, he ranked 21st in pass rush win rate.
In terms of areas to work on against the pass, the biggest thing for Brinson is finishing. He only managed one sack per PFF.
Advertisement
Penalties were also an issue. He may have only had two, but they came on a limited snap count, and one of them extended a drive late in the regular season loss to Chicago, which helped swing the division in the Bears' favor.
Moreover, his run defense was concerning when looking at the numbers, with him ranking in the bottom third of the league in every category. Brinson looked overmatched and a bit out of his depth defending the run as a rookie.
Simply managing to get the ball carrier on the ground when presented with the opportunity would have made a difference, as he missed three tackles on just 15 attempts, again highlighting the need to finish better.
It is fair to suggest that at the moment, Brinson is not ready to be on the field regularly on run downs.
Advertisement
Still, the Packers will have been pleased with how Brinson acquitted himself after being thrown in at the deep end following injuries to other players. He would not have been expected to take on anything like the kind of snap count he ended up enduring as a late-round rookie.
In 2026, Brinson should be able to slide back into playing far fewer snaps, with Javon Hargrave, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks and Chris McClellan all likely to be ahead of him on the depth chart.
At Georgia, Brinson was part of a deep rotation of defensive linemen and was able to make an impact when his turn came around. The Packers will be hoping to replicate that formula this year, after some positive signs from Brinson as a rookie, specifically in the pass rush department.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Warren Brinson's rookie stats show pass rush potential for Packers
