Dawgs By Nature
A solid year in the UFL gives Perrion Winfrey new life in the NFL
The list of NFL draft busts for every team is pretty long, but the Cleveland Browns have seemed to corner the market. If it is not a draft bust, it is a trade down that leads to regret even over a decade later.
DT Perrion Winfrey was supposed to be different. Many thought the Browns got a steal with Winfrey, a Senior Bowl standout, who was expected to be drafted in the second round by many but fell to the fourth round.
Instead, Cleveland got one season (13 games) with 22 tackles, two QB hits, one tackle for loss and 0.5 sack out of Winfrey before releasing him due to a legal charge. Winfrey had been suspended for one game as a rookie as well.
The New York Jets signed Winfrey to their practice squad, where he was elevated for one game in 2023 but not signed to a future/reserve contract following the season. Now, after making the All-UFL team, Winfrey is heading back to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys:
The Cowboys have had success poaching from the UFL with kicker Brandon Aubrey and WR KaVontae Turpin. It will be interesting if Winfrey is able to build on his success in the UFL to meet his predraft expectations.
