Former Browns defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was let go by the Dallas Cowboys.
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Former Browns defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was let go by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys have parted ways with former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, waiving the 25-year-old on Thursday.
Winfrey, a former fourth-round pick of the Browns out of Oklahoma, appeared in just one game for Dallas during the 2025 season. He now faces an uncertain future as he searches for his fourth NFL team. Dallas confirmed the move through its public relations account on X.
Winfrey signed with the Cowboys in June 2025 on a two-year, $2 million deal after an impressive stint with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions, where he earned All-UFL honors.
However, a back injury suffered during the preseason derailed his tenure in Dallas almost immediately. Winfrey was placed on injured reserve on September 8 and did not return to the active roster until November. He ultimately appeared in just one game — a Week 16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — logging 34 defensive snaps and recording two tackles.
With Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa still on the roster, the Cowboys are well-stocked along the interior defensive line.
Perrion Winfrey Had Turbulent Tenure With Browns
The Browns selected Winfrey with the No. 108 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. There was reason for optimism. As a rookie in Cleveland, Winfrey showed flashes, appearing in 13 games and recording 22 tackles and half a sack. But off-field issues and maturity concerns quickly overshadowed whatever progress he was making on the field.
Winfrey was held out of practice for repeatedly being late, and Myles Garrett publicly called out the rookie, saying he needed to learn to be a professional. Winfrey also missed multiple games as a healthy scratch for disciplinary reasons, including posting and deleting a cryptic message on social media after one of those scratches.
In April 2023, Winfrey was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge in Harris County, Texas. He was also accused of threatening a woman with a gun in Cleveland. The Browns waived him in July 2023, cutting short what had been a four-year rookie contract.
Winfrey briefly landed on the New York Jets’ practice squad in November 2023 but was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury a month later. The Jets did not re-sign him, sending him to the UFL, where he revived his career with Birmingham before the Cowboys gave him another shot.
Now waived for the second time in his NFL career, Winfrey — who has logged just 15 career NFL games — will look to catch on with another team as free agency opens.
Browns Have Talent on Defensive Line
Cleveland won’t likely be giving Winfrey a ring to reunite. The Browns have established their defensive front as one of the best in the NFL, with Myles Garrett as the centerpiece.
Myles Garrett broke the NFL’s single-season sack record in 2025 with 23, earning his second Defensive Player of the Year award. First-round pick Mason Graham started 16 games at defensive tackle as a rookie, recording 45 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a half sack while emerging as a consistent interior presence alongside veteran Maliek Collins.
Alex Wright earned a midseason contract extension after a breakout campaign, while Isaiah McGuire and Cameron Thomas provided reliable depth on the edge. Mike Hall Jr. and Jowon Briggs round out the majority of the interior rotation.