Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys are giving Perrion Winfrey a second chance at the NFL.
In the aftermath of OTAs and minicamp being the first on-field work for the completely overhauled Dallas Cowboys coaching staff and a host of new players, the team continued to add to their roster on Wednesday with the addition of two new defenders. Ever since the draft, it has been apparent that the experienced Matt Eberflus, most recently the head coach for the Chicago Bears, has had his significant share of influence when it comes to rebuilding the defense Mike Zimmer left behind after just one mixed result season as DC.
The Cowboys targeted cornerback with their second-round pick in April’s draft, and passed on wide receiver entirely on day three, instead opting for a pair of defensive tackles in Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote. These were the first signs of some of the new ways roster building would be handled in Dallas, and the trend continued at both positions Wednesday with the free agent signings of CB Robert Rochell and DT Perrion Winfrey.
The Cowboys will now try do something two previous NFL teams could not with Perrion Winfrey, and that is to capture the upside of a former fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma. With Winfrey coming from a blue chip college program, and being a former Senior Bowl player, it is easier to see why the Cowboys have some vision for how he’ll fit into their new culture.
Winfrey was actually the MVP of the 2022 Senior Bowl before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns. The Cowboys drafted six other Senior Bowl players that year, five of which are still here as Winfrey’s new teammates. Dallas spent their second-round pick on Sam Williams, third on Jalen Tolbert, fourth on Jake Ferguson, and fifth-round picks on Matt Waletzko, Damone Clark, and John Ridgeway.
An off-the-field incident led to Winfrey lasting just one season in Cleveland, where he did appear in 13 games as a rookie. This off-field issue led to a misdemeanor arrest but ultimately charges were dismissed.
The following season in 2023 would be his last in the NFL to date, as he signed to the practice squad of the New York Jets and made it to the active roster for one game. In October of 2024, at just 23 years old still, Winfrey signed to continue his football career in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions.
Winfrey was an all-UFL player this season, as part of a defense that was top three in total yards allowed per game, rushing yards allowed per game, and points allowed per game. The Stallions won the USFL conference regular season title, but lost to league MVP and player of the year Bryce Perkins and the Michigan Panthers in the conference championship game. However, when Perkins played against Winfrey and the Stallions defense in the regular season, he had his lowest completion percentage, yardage, and yards per attempt outputs of the year. He also threw one of his two interceptions...
