“Jets kicked the tires on the polarizing former highly touted defenseman.”
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Former Cleveland Browns defensive back Perrion Winfrey reacts in the middle of an NFL game.
The New York Jets caused a stir because of the NFL’s transaction announcement.
Field Yates from ESPN was the first to appear before Twitter
Winfrey has a checkered past with the Browns
The former Oklahoma product originally entered the league as the No. 108 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Winfrey was a highly touted player after graduating from college. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 292 pounds. In his two years with the Sooners he was annoyed six sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and over 40 total tackles.
Winfrey appeared in 13 games during his rookie season with the Browns. During that span, he recorded half a sack, two quarterback hits, two pass deflections and finished the game with 22 tackles.
Although he had some issues off the football field that derailed his Browns career.
On April 10, 2023, he was arrested on a “complaint of assault.” per ESPN. According to Harris County, Winfrey was accused of “grabbing the hand of a woman he was with, thereby causing bodily harm.” Court records.
Winfrey remained a part of the team despite this problem, but three months later he was finally released was dumped.
Jake Trotter of ESPN said Winfrey was cut in mid-July “after police listed him as a suspect in an aggravated robbery.”
Both cases ended later dropped/dismissed.
“The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office said the accuser has decided not to prosecute,” per Fox 8 News.
An invisible injury from jets that could cause problems
The only reason the Jets even kicked Winfrey’s tires is because of a devastating injury during the New York Giants game.
Gang Green lost veteran Al Woods to one torn Achilles That has put him out of action for the 2023 season and perhaps the rest of his career. Woods is 36 years old and has considered retirement for the past few seasons. A devastating injury like this could mean the end of the road.
When the Jets signed him to a one-year deal this offseason $2.25 million it went completely under the radar. He wasn’t a sexy name, he didn’t want a lot of money and the Jets have plenty of defensive linemen.
Woods is listed on The Jets’ official roster sheet at 6-foot-4, 309 pounds. He was a mountain of a man that you couldn’t move in the run game.
However, now he’s gone and the Jets need to find a replacement. The team has decided not to make a deal before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, October 31, leaving them to turn to free agency to find suitable options.
Winfrey is only 23 years old and has tons of potential as a former third-day draft pick. As long as everything is cleared and vetted by the front office and background check security department, he could prove to be an intriguing dart midway through the 2023 season.
Paul A. Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. The New York native is also the official PA voice of the Syracuse Strong Football Club and co-host of Cumulus Media’s morning show “The Manchild Show with Boy Green.” Prior to joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY and The Score 1260. More about Paul A. Esden Jr.
