Cowboys 2021 draft prospects: Oklahoma EDGE Ronnie Perkins scouting report

Kwity Paye? Azeez Ojulari? Jaelen Phillips? These are names who have been rumored to the Cowboys as potential candidates for the 10th overall pick, or potential trade back candidates. But one name we may need to get familiar with is Oklahoma’s EDGE Ronnie Perkins, who should be drafted at some point on day two.

Name: Ronnie Perkins

School: Oklahoma

Height: 6-2

Weight: 253

Class: Junior

Position: EDGE

Jersey: #7

Strengths:

Explosive, long-armed pass rusher that uses his arm length well to win as a pass rusher off the edge. Beat Teven Jenkins with long-arm move multiple times in 2020, and set up a stab-chop, and cross-chop move as well throughout his career. Offers above average first-step quickness off the ball, which will allow him to win edges, without being a dynamic athlete. Plays through the whistle consistently with a motor that doesn’t cool. Chases down plays in the backfield and down the field he has no business getting to because of his motor. Plays with some violence when taking on offensive linemen and attacking blockers when rushing the passer.

Weaknesses:

Smaller build EDGE defender with less than ideal arm length (though he often won with it at Oklahoma). Tightness in his hips, ankles, and legs shows up with the inability to flatten efficiently when looking to finish at the quarterback. Has the tendency to get washed out of running plays due to lack of size and strength in his upper body. Scheme helped with some of his production over the years at Oklahoma. While his vertical explosion impressed, his lateral agility was a consistent issue with the Sooners.

Overall Summary:

While still developing his technique, and lacking the ideal athleticism and twitch in his lower half, Ronnie Perkins is a savvy, high-motored, EDGE that uses his less than ideal traits to his advantage more often than not. While not possessing elite arm length, Perkins uses his long-arm move to walk linemen back into the quarterbacks lap, and has incorporated a stab-chop and cross-chop move that has developed quite nicely. Perkins may not ever be a guy that makes a Pro Bowl every year, but he can carve out a role as a quality depth piece in the National Football League, and that’s something the Cowboys have lacked behind DeMarcus Lawrence for some time now.

Round Grade:

3rd (#67 Overall)

Video Breakdowns: