Packers 2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Know: IDL Perrion Winfrey

Once again on the offseason to-do list for the Green Bay Packers is addressing the interior defensive line—a position that they haven’t invested heavily in during recent years.

For starters, there are only four players at the moment under contract for the 2022 season—Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Jack Heflin, and TJ Slaton.  Just given that fact alone, Green Bay will have to make several additions to the interior defensive line room.

But in addition to adding more players, Green Bay is also in need of some high-end talent as well. While I would say that Clark did have more help this past season, in terms of yards per carry allowed and rush DVOA, Green Bay’s run defense ranked near the bottom of the NFL in both categories and was actually a bit worse in 2021 compared to 2020—so there is certainly room for improvement.

Green Bay Packers 2022 NFL Draft Prospects Know—Perrion Winfrey.

Perrion Winfrey was a two-year starter at Oklahoma, totaling 786 defensive snaps during that span after transferring from Iowa Western CC, where he was ESPN’s top-ranked JUCO player.

In two seasons with the Sooners, the 6’4” – 292 pound Winfrey would record 52 pressures, six sacks, all of which came in 2021, 17 tackles for loss, and 24 stops—or plays that end in a loss for the opponent, according to PFF ($$).

Winfrey was also named Senior Bowl MVP after recording five tackles, including three for a loss, and two sacks in the college All-Star game.

For a majority of Winfrey’s snaps, he lined up in the A-gap and B-gap, but he does have some experience lined up over the tackle as well. With him primarily playing inside, his presence would give the Green Bay Packers the added flexibility to move Clark around in search of more one-on-one opportunities.

We actually saw Clark take more snaps away from the interior and the double-teams that come with that this past season and it was one of his most productive years to date in terms of pressures generated.

For more on Winfrey’s game and what he could offer the Green Bay Packers, here is what The Draft Network has to say about him:

"“Winfrey is an athletic defensive lineman that has an explosive first step that he uses to penetrate backfields and cause havoc. His most disruptive play comes when he correctly slants into the offensive play and is able to get backfield penetration resulting in a tackle for loss. At Oklahoma, Winfrey is undoubtedly the best defensive lineman on the Sooners’ defense and that’s the main reason why he is utilized in so many positions.”"

Winfrey is the 35th ranked player on The Draft Network’s big board and the third-ranked interior defensive lineman, behind only Devonte Wyatt and DeMarvin Leal.

In Joe Barry’s defense, which is predicated on taking away the pass first and often utilizes lightboxes, the Green Bay Packers run defense may never be a top unit—even with Kenny Clark in the middle.

However, with that said, this is one area where this defense can take a big step forward in Year 2 under Barry, and with De’Vondre Campbell’s future with the team up in the air and the linebacker position potentially being significantly weakened in 2022, improved play in the trenches will be a must if that is the case.