Perrion Winfrey NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report

NFL Draft Profile: Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma

Name:  Perrion Winfrey

School: University of Oklahoma

Year: Senior

Position: Defensive Line

Measurables: 6’4”, 292 lbs, per OU Athletics. 6’4”, 303 lbs per Combine measurements.

 

Stats: 

 

General Info:

Perrion (PAIR-ee-ahn) Winfrey was born and raised in the village of Roselle, Illinois, a small suburb of Chicago. Following his high school career at Lake Park High, he turned down offers from Morgan State, Virginia Tech, Western Illinois, and Wyoming, instead opting to play at Western Iowa Community College for two years.

Winfrey’s decision paid off, and after two stellar years at W.I.C.C., he was ranked the top Ju-Co recruit in the nation, with a composite four-star ranking (247 sports). He was aggressively pursued by multiple schools, eventually settling on Oklahoma over Alabama, LSU, and several other schools.

His first season (2020) at Oklahoma, Winfrey appeared in all 11 games, starting eight of the last nine. Given his role as an interior defensive lineman, he did not put-up huge numbers: however, Big 12 coaches acknowledged his impressive season, voting him a second-team defensive lineman for the season. Of his 19 total tackles, six (32%) went for a loss, an impressive rate.

Winfrey was even more impressive in the 2021 season, as he saw statistical leaps in multiple categories, and was named to the All Big 12 team by coaches and the Associated Press. Although he saw just a marginal improvement in tackles (23 vs 19 the year prior), Winfrey nearly doubled his TFL production, managing 11 over his 12 starts. His percentage of tackles that went for a loss also improved substantially, going from 32% to 48%, which is simply unbelievable. However, Winfrey’s development as an interior pass-rusher was the most stunning growth: after recording just half a sack as a junior at OU, Winfrey recorded five-and-a-half, sparking optimism about his pass-rushing upside.

After his final season, Winfrey was seen as a strong prospect, with the NFL Mock Draft Database having him ranked as the 54th overall prospect at the time. A dominant Senior Bowl performance caused his stock to skyrocket, though: after impressing in one-on-one reps all week, Winfrey recorded two sacks and three TFLs in the game, winning the Senior Bowl MVP. He also participated in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. So far as I can tell, he only participated in the 40-yard dash—but what a dash it was, as he clocked a 4.84 40 at 303 lbs., though he appeared to tweak his leg at the end of his second run (perhaps explaining his absence from other measurable drills.)

Positional Skills:

Strengths

  • Lined up at various defensive line positions and produced at all of them.
  • Weighed in heavier than expected at the combine, after playing at under 300 lbs in college. Clearly did not sacrifice any athleticism to put on the weight, either, as seen by his impressive 40.
  • Has great burst off the snap. This, coupled with his above-average strength, makes him a real threat as a power rusher, as he can really push linemen backwards.
  • High effort, high motor player. He plays until the whistle blows, and will chase down plays from behind, even 20+ yards downfield.
  • Winfrey’s football IQ is a big plus. Having played so many different spots on the d-line for Oklahoma, he has learned to quickly identify and respond to different blocks and looks from offensive linemen.
  • Extremely effective as a gap-penetrator, as evidenced by his impressive TFL rates. When he hits the gap well, he makes a play.

Weaknesses

  • One-dimensional at this stage. He struggles to anchor, which makes him boom-or-bust; if he doesn’t get penetration, he is likely to be a non-factor in a play.
  • Though the moves he does have are effective, Winfrey does not have a deep pash-rush repertoire, and (currently) relies on his athleticism rather than technique.
  • Winfrey wastes a lot of movement; his legs are always going, but the consistency at which he produced from that movement is inconsistent at best. He expends energy without moving the offensive linemen.
  • Tight hips limit his lateral movement. Winfrey is not good at getting around a lineman, with a game based almost entirely about penetrating gaps or overpowering offensive linemen.
  • His hand placement is often poor. Coupled with some of his other weaknesses, this results in issues for Winfrey during prolongated engagements with offensive linemen, as he finds himself unable to counter them.

Fit with the Packers:

Perrion Winfrey is a gap-penetrating, bull-rushing defensive linemen whose best fit in the NFL is probably as a one or three technique linemen. With his burst off the snap, he should be able to make some plays in the backfield early in his career as he refines his technique. He reminds me of former Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd: coming out of college, they had similar 40 times, weights, and heights, and both made their names by being exceptional penetrators in college. With that said, I struggle to love Perrion Winfrey as a first-round pick, and I think 28 would be pretty rich for him. If Green Bay trades out of the first, I’d love Winfrey, and if he is there with the Packers’ current second rounder, they should not hesitate to run the envelope out and take him. He could free up Kenny Clark, allowing the Pro Bowl lineman to move around the formation, and a three-man defensive line Winfrey, Clark, and T.J. Slaton could be strong. Winfrey would also have an opportunity to refine his technique, working next to one of the best in the game (Clark), with the potential to become a Pro Bowl defensive tackle as his game develops.

 

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Comments (15)

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stockholder's picture

March 08, 2022 at 06:34 pm

I think you nailed this. My concern are the stats. They're just too low for me.

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LLCHESTY's picture

March 08, 2022 at 09:08 pm

Whatever. He had 6 sacks, 6 hits and 17 hurries in only 285 passing snaps while playing out of position a third of the time. Best performance at the Senior Bowl since Aaron Donald and the scouts that said that said Wyatt looked good too but not that good.

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LLCHESTY's picture

March 08, 2022 at 09:02 pm

Winfrey is not a 1T. He was used there sometimes in Oklahoma because he was the best lineman they had and they moved him around. They also asked him to 2 gap a lot and that's not his game. Absolutely crushed it at the Senior Bowl. He's a 3T that could also play 5 on passing downs. Also could perform very well at 4i in Bear fronts. I like his attitude and think he could be a 10 sack a year guy in a couple of years.

I do think he could be there if the Pacers traded down 3-5 spots. Much rather see them take him after trading down than an Edge or WR where there's much more depth. Instantly better than Lowry in sub packages next to Clark.

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BruceC1960's picture

March 08, 2022 at 09:25 pm

You a Sooner fan Chesty?

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LLCHESTY's picture

March 09, 2022 at 06:32 am

No but I do like a few of their defensive players in this draft. Winfrey, Bonitto, Thomas and Asamoah.

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stockholder's picture

March 09, 2022 at 07:07 am

I think Jones will be the better DT when you look back.

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LLCHESTY's picture

March 09, 2022 at 03:57 pm

Maybe, but one guy has 10 sack a year potential and the other does not.

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BruceC1960's picture

March 09, 2022 at 07:51 am

I believe they were poorly coached at OU. Bonitto and Perrion Winfrey are dogs. They might be nice pieces for somebody. Thomas is a steady dependable player. Should be a good NFL player.

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Leatherhead's picture

March 09, 2022 at 08:16 am

Currently, he's a consensus second day guy, maybe even an early 3rd round pick. I think he'll go a little earlier than that, and he might be available when we pick at #59.

This notion that he'd "instantly" be better than Lowry is laughable. Lowry is a man, who has repeatedly demonstrated that he can line up and play against men. Winfrey has played well against boys, many of whom will be PE teachers in a few years, although he did have a good showing at the Senior Bowl against better competition. He's not even 22 years old yet, and Lowry has had many thousands more reps in the weight room, many additional years of coaching and film study.

I think he'd be a good addition, and eventually might be an upgrade on Lowry or at least an adequate replacement when Lowry leaves, but don't delude yourself into thinking that a 21 year old kid is an immediate upgrade on a 28 year old man who has been doing this for years. He's not.

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LLCHESTY's picture

March 09, 2022 at 03:54 pm

I said instantly better at 3T than Lowry. Lowry shouldn't be playing 3T in passing situations at all. People seem to forget he played like straight dog crap the first couple games. He's an average 3-4 DE nothing more, nothing less. They could pay less and get better.

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Leatherhead's picture

March 09, 2022 at 04:18 pm

That makes absolutely zero sense. He's average? In other words, he's a starter in the league on quite a few teams. And he's a veteran. How much do you think that a starting quality veteran DL goes for?

He's counts about $8 million on the cap, with $4 million dead money. So we'd save 4 million. So please let me know which veteran defensive linemen we could get for less than that. I don't think it's a very long list.

The guy NE VER misses games. He's Northwestern smart. He does tons of the little stuff that goes unnoticed. He's been a starter on one of the league's better defenses for the last three years. And he's actually at his physical peak right now.

His contract expires at the end of this season. But until then, he's our 2nd best defensive lineman. If you want to believe some Day 2 rookie can just step right in and do better, then I'm wondering what happened to Montravious Adams? Jerel Worthy? Steve Warren? Kenny Peterson?

In fact, maybe you could give us some examples of a Day 2 DL who just stepped in as a rookie and played great against older, stronger, more experienced men. Again, I think it's a real short list.

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Leatherhead's picture

March 09, 2022 at 04:18 pm

That makes absolutely zero sense. He's average? In other words, he's a starter in the league on quite a few teams. And he's a veteran. How much do you think that a starting quality veteran DL goes for?

He's counts about $8 million on the cap, with $4 million dead money. So we'd save 4 million. So please let me know which veteran defensive linemen we could get for less than that. I don't think it's a very long list.

The guy NE VER misses games. He's Northwestern smart. He does tons of the little stuff that goes unnoticed. He's been a starter on one of the league's better defenses for the last three years. And he's actually at his physical peak right now.

His contract expires at the end of this season. But until then, he's our 2nd best defensive lineman. If you want to believe some Day 2 rookie can just step right in and do better, then I'm wondering what happened to Montravious Adams? Jerel Worthy? Steve Warren? Kenny Peterson?

In fact, maybe you could give us some examples of a Day 2 DL who just stepped in as a rookie and played great against older, stronger, more experienced men. Again, I think it's a real short list.

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MooPack's picture

March 09, 2022 at 02:09 pm

Another very similar prospect is Phidarian Mathis from Alabama. He's about an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier, but slower. Perrion is more athletic, but Phidarian has twice as many sacks at 9 and twice the tackles. Both are usually rated next to each other. Both are 2nd round prospects, but would probably have to trade up in the second to get one. Phidarian is most likely a 1T and could possibly move Kenny Clark to 3T. Perrion is more a 3T and Clark would stay at 1T. Selecting either would depend on how they feel TJ Slaton is improving.

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Leatherhead's picture

March 09, 2022 at 07:55 pm

I think in the draft that when we pick at #28, there's a puncher's chance that we'll have a shot at Wyatt, Leal, or Logan, with Logan being the most likely of the three. Mathis and /or Winfrey might be available. We play Clark a lot, and we've got Slaten to plug up the A gaps, but we need another DL who can also pair with Clark when we only have two on the field. Additionally, this is Lowry's contract year, so if we could get a guy who could contribute as a rookie and replace Lowry next year, that'd be pretty high on the list.

We could take a safety as well, and we'll very likely have a shot at a good one. Dax Hill is probably the second best safety in the class and he could be around at #28.

I think the field is already shrinking at #28. There doesn't seem to be an edge that would be a value at #28 unless a blue-chipper falls. Ditto with ILB. So on defense, I think it would be Hill or Wyatt or Leal at #28.

Now.....if we want a weapon on offense...........

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MooPack's picture

March 09, 2022 at 09:42 pm

Yes, I agree on Dax Hill. I posted my opinion on him here earlier today here:

https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/safety-a-low-key-need-for-green-bay-packer...

He could very well be the biggest defense difference maker left at #28.

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