Broncos roster review: Edge Ronnie Perkins

Ronnie Perkins was a 3rd round pick by the New England Patriots (96th overall) back in 2021 after a disappointing and troubled career at Oklahoma. He was suspended for five games (carried form his sophomore year to his junior year) for failing a drug test. During his college career he would play in 33 games, but only record 100 tackles. However, 33 of his 100 tackles were TFL’s! He also had 17.5 career sacks.

Bill Belichick saw enough potential in him to use a 3rd round pick on him, but he was placed on the IR as stayed there for the 2021 season. He spent the entire 2022 season on the Pat’s practice squad. He never appeared in a game for them. Desperate for edge rushers, the Denver Broncos signed him off of New England’s PS in 2023.

Ronnie did not get a combine invite so all his data is from his Pro-Day.

Player Profile

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 253 pounds

Age: 24 years old | Experience: 2nd Year

Hands: 9.0” Arms: 32 7/8”

40: 4.71 10-yd split: 1.69 20-yd split: 2.79

Short shuttle: 4.69 3-cone: did not do

Vertical: 32.0” Broad: 9’7”

Bench: 25 reps

Ronnie’s 2024 outlook

Ronnie is not particularly quick or explosive and his has small hands and short arms. All of these things have made it hard for him to accomplish much in the NFL as an edge. He played 149 defensive snaps for the Broncos in 2023 and 21 ST snaps. He accounted for 13 tackles (9 solo), 2 TFL, 2 pressures, and 1 QBhit. SIS credits him with 3 pressures on 64 pass rush snaps (4.7%). That pressure rate is terrible for an edge. SIS credits him with 4 TFL. So Ronnie’s nose for TFL’s seems to be intact even if he is a poor pass rusher.

Lance Zierlein had this to say about Ronnie before the 2021 NFL Draft:

Productive but undersized defensive end who might need to prove he can play standing for a 3-4 scheme. Perkins is tight-hipped and a very average athlete with production coming thanks to his hard-charging motor as well as Oklahoma’s slant-heavy defensive front. He’s tough but the lack of bend has a distinct impact on his anchor and contact balance at the point of attack. Despite some physical deficiencies, he plays with forward focus and the attitude to go find the football. There are differences of opinion in the NFL scouting community regarding his NFL potential, but the lack of traits and functional quickness are challenges that could limit him.

Final Thoughts

Perkins is a likely cut with the signing of Dondrea Tillman who is a much better pass rusher. As a DE who is very small or an OLB who lacks quickness, Perkins is unlikely to make the Bronco 2024 roster.