The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers fortified their defensive line by signing free agent Jarran Reed to a one-year deal. With Reed, Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry up front, the Packers have the makings of a strong defensive line group.
Reed is arguably the most talented defensive line teammate that Clark has had during his tenure in Green Bay and his presence gives Clark some much-needed assistance up front. The heavy lifting is over, but that doesn’t mean Brian Gutekunst won’t look to add more talent up front via the 2022 NFL draft.
A player that Gutekunst could target with one of the team’s two second-round picks is Perrion Winfrey. The Oklahoma defensive tackle checks in at No. 13 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
A four-star recruit out of Illinois, Winfrey started his collegiate career at Iowa Western. Winfrey then transferred to Oklahoma for the 2020 season. During his first season at Norman, Winfrey earned second-team All-Big 12, after recording six tackles for loss.
This past season Winfrey recorded 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 tackles for loss. According to Pro Football Focus, Winfrey recorded 17 pressures this past season for the Sooners.
Winfrey built off his successful season when he earned Senior Bowl MVP honors after he recorded five tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.
“He’s explosive,” Ian Cummings, an NFL Draft analyst for Pro Football Network, said. “He’s extremely twitchy, and has 35” arms that provide for elite power capacity. He can execute swims, rips, and he has a brutal bull rush as well. His all-out motor also ensures that he’s bringing heat on every down.”
Winfrey might be one of the most explosive interior defensive linemen in this draft. That initial burst puts offensive linemen back on their heels. That quickness, paired with his play strength can absolutely overwhelm interior offensive linemen. He does a good job of converting speed to power. He has quick, powerful hands. The JUCO transfer plays with good leg drive and has a strong lower body to drive offensive lineman back into the quarterback’s lap.
“As an interior pass rusher, Winfrey offers valuable upside as a catalyst on the defensive front,” Cummings said. “He’s a one-on-one threat. He’s not going to occupy multiple blockers at 0 or 1-technique. But at 3-technique, he can pin his ears back and win one-on-one matchups with his violent hands, twitch, and closing burst. That individual pass-rushing presence gives him plenty of appeal for teams in need of that at the NFL level.”
As a run defender, Winfrey can be an absolute menace. The Sooner defensive tackle finished his career with 17 career tackles for loss. He made a habit of disrupting the action in the backfield. He gets off the ball quickly and moves blockers with his physical hands. He has quick feet and a flexible lower body to attack gaps. With his lateral quickness, Winfrey has outstanding range to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. Winfrey tends to get too high sometimes and needs to play with better leverage.
“Winfrey’s run defense is a work in progress, but a role change in the NFL could help him out,” Cummings said. “He played at 0-tech and 1-tech a lot at Oklahoma, and he clearly isn’t built for that role. He’s not a space eater or a two-gapper, and with his frame around 290-300 pounds, he can be washed out easily when engaged by multiple blockers. But farther outside, at 3-tech and 4i, he has the athleticism and length to run with blocks and anchor. He does need to lower his pad level, as he plays too high too often. But he’s not a liability here.”
Fit with the Packers
With his quickness and power, Winfrey could be an absolute force along the interior for the Packers. Playing alongside Clark, Winfrey would see a lot of one-on-one situations, where his first step explosiveness and power could wreak havoc.
“If I’m a general manager for a team that runs a lot of odd and hybrid fronts, I’d draft Winfrey to be that premier pass rusher at 3-tech,” Cummings said. “If you have a nose in place who can occupy blocks and free up other linemen, that’s a perfect situation for Winfrey to be disruptive early on. He still has room to refine his hand usage, but he has an elite combination of burst, twitch, and length. He can be a special player at his max projection.”
There are some technical things that need to be ironed out, like leverage and run game angles. However, as a rookie Winfrey could provide an immediate impact as an interior pass rusher while providing splash plays against the run.
If Winfrey is on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 53rd pick, Gutekunst could add him to the mix.
The Packers already have a formidable trio up front with Clark, Reed and Lowry. Adding a player with Winfrey’s skillset could make the defensive line at 1265 Lombardi Avenue a dominant group.
