Perrion Winfrey: What the Browns are getting in their 4th round DT

The Cleveland Browns did not have a first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and despite many fans clamoring for them to trade back in to snag a star, Cleveland made the decision to create no chaos on the first day.

On the second day, Browns fans grew even angrier, because the franchise elected to trade back from their first draft selection, but once they did make a selection they made some noise.

We already covered what the Browns are getting in Martin Emerson, Alex Wright and David Bell and now we move on to their next selection. With the 108th selection in the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Perrion Winfrey, defensive tackle from Oklahoma.

Now let’s see what he can do:

Strengths

Name: Perrion Winfrey

Position: Defensive Tackle

School: Oklahoma

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 290 pounds

Perrion Winfrey went the junior college route out of high school and after dominating at Iowa Western Community College, Winfrey accepted a scholarship offer from Oklahoma over Alabama and LSU.

Winfrey made a splash immediately for the Sooners starting eight games and earned second-team All-Big 12. Winfrey returned for his senior season and put up just as impressive tape.

Winfrey has the size and athleticism to contribute in a variety of ways and has experience across the entire Oklahoma defensive line. His explosive first step allows him to burst through gaps and cause disruption in the backfield on a consistent basis. Winfrey also has a rare bend and overall quickness for an interior defender.

Weaknesses

Perrion Winfrey likely fell to the fourth round due to his lack of ideal size as he doesn’t look to possess the necessary anchor at his build and his frame appears maxed out. His arm length is actually on the longer side, but he fails to use it and allows blockers into his chest to drive him too often and this is most obvious against the run.

Potential Fit

Snagging a talent like Perrion Winfrey in the fourth round is highway robbery. Winfrey has an extremely high floor with a rare explosive get-off that will at the very least allow him to become a disruptive force in a one-gap scheme. Worst case scenario, Winfrey is a key depth piece that sees meaningful minutes and shines on passing downs.

With all that said, Winfrey also has a legitimate NFL starting caliber ceiling. If Winfrey can further develop his pass rush and add more moves to his utility belt, he can be a devastating force on the interior of the defensive line for the Cleveland Browns.

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