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If the Browns are looking for an attack-dog pass rusher to align opposite Myles Garrett at defensive end, the Oklahoma Sooners might have an answer in the 2021 NFL draft.
Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 247 (from Oklahoma)
Perkins earned freshman All-American honors in 2018 and continued to drive his stock higher with impressive performances as a pass rusher in his final two years. He does have some warts, notably a five-game suspension for substance abuse, but there are few players better at consistently initiating and finishing pressure against opposing QBs in this draft class than Perkins.
Scouting report
Games watched: Oklahoma State (2019 and 2020), Iowa State, Florida (bowl game), Texas (2019), Houston (2019)
Strengths
- Violent hands and consistently strong hand placement with his initial punch
- Very polished at keeping opposing blockers from landing two hands on him
- Decent bend around the edge, can make himself small when he needs to with good ankle flexion and core flexbility
- Finishes with a great combination of power and body control
- Lines up on either side and doesn’t appear to have a dominant hand
- Strong finisher in the run game with good chase-down motor and speed
- His club move and the ability to follow it up is fantastic
- Consistently productive against all types of competition and can has an innate ability to split double-teams sent his way
Weaknesses
- Suspended for five games in 2020 and the bowl game following the 2019 season for marijuana and substance abuse issues
- Can rush with blinders on; will run past draw plays or inside runs because he’s so focused on getting to the QB
- Doesn’t have a barrage of pass-rush moves, relies heavily on his initial punch and getting around the edge
- Freely gives up outside contain as a rusher, a real danger against a mobile QB like Lamar Jackson
- Not positionally responsible against the run, doesn’t seem to grasp the “team” concept of run defense well yet
- Very rudimentary skills at playing off the ball. Despite his lack of size, he’s not a candidate to play much as an off-ball OLB
Overall
Perkins is an exciting player who appears bigger on film than his modest 6-3, 247-pound measurements. He packs a lot of power into his arms, hands and shoulders and knows how to use it. His athleticism is good-not-great but he understands where he wins and where he doesn’t and consistently plays to his strengths. His ability to finish with power and to grab and wrap with just one arm is very impressive and translates to the NFL. A troubling drug-related suspension is a flag; regardless of the opinion on marijuana usage, testing positive enough to get suspended still shows a lack of personal discipline and professionalism.
Browns fit
Perkins offers a lot of pass-rushing juice as a player who can line up at DE on either side of the formation. His quick get-off and strongman style of play is an interesting and unexpected combination from a player who is built much more like a more traditional 3-4 OLB.
Despite the lither size, Perkins does not offer a lot of potential outside of rushing the passer. He doesn’t have great lateral wiggle or vision to do more than attack the opposing backfield, at least early in his career. His suspension and gaps in his game likely keep Perkins from being a first-round pick, and there will be other players at the position who offer more at No. 26. If he’s still on the board when the Browns pick in the second round, Perkins would make an exciting young talent who fills a specific role for the team and the potential to make a real impact.