Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Grading the Sooners in the NFL Draft — Win, Lose, or Draw?

By Nate Thompson

Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Oklahoma Sooners center Creed Humphrey (56) prepares to hike the ball during the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Oklahoma Sooners center Creed Humphrey (56) prepares to hike the ball during the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnie Perkins (7) pressures Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (17) during the first half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnie Perkins (7) pressures Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (17) during the first half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Ronnie Perkins (Loss)

Ronnie Perkins had incredible potential going into this year’s draft. A lot of pundits thought he could go higher than expected, with the most optimistic mock drafts forecasting him to go in the first round.

Instead, Perkins fell all the way to the New England Patriots in the third round. It was always going to be hard to keep someone like Perkins in the Sooner program for too long, but after the oddity that was the 2020 season, wherein Perkins was suspended for the first half of the season, there were some, including yours truly, who thought he could have really benefited from one more year at OU.

Looking ahead to this coming season, Oklahoma’s defensive line looks to be the best it’s been in decades. With Perrion Winfrey,  Jalen Redmond and Isaiah Thomas returning, Perkins could have put a monster 2021 year on tape and had the eye of every GM in the NFL.

However, money talks. Perkins decided to leave for greener pastures and it ultimately resulted in a lesser draft pick. I still think Perkins has a bright future in the league, but that first-round money would’ve been worth the wait.

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