The Columbus Aviators have signed defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey on Tuesday, per the UFL Communications Department. Winfrey was released by the Birmingham Stallions on Sunday despite being All-UFL in 2025. The Stallions explored options to find a trade partner to bring value back to them in exchange for Winfrey. The Aviators' patience has resulted in them being able to get him for free.
Winfrey’s release from Birmingham was on the heels of a blockbuster move by Birmingham that saw them send starting quarterback Matt Corral and DT Amani Bledsoe to the Orlando Storm in exchange for the Storm’s backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Winfrey made a great impact in 2025 with Birmingham, where he had 17 solo tackles and 12 assisted tackles over the 10-game regular season, standing out as a run stopper. For how I tracked stops over the 2025 season and playoffs, he had the 20th most stops among all defensive players, with 21 total stops (7 of which were solo run stops, 12 of which were shared run stops).
His lone sack in 2025 came in the playoffs. By my count, 39 total pressures (32 of which past a blocker). Winfrey had a pressure rate of 11% by my count, cross-referenced with PFF snap counts, which is a strong rate for an interior defensive lineman.
Winfrey’s play in 2025 saw him get back to the NFL and play in a regular-season game with the Dallas Cowboys.
Winfrey had 3 solo tackles in week 3 after missing the first 2 games, but did have 2 missed tackles by my count as he got back up to speed. Week 4 saw him record 3 solo tackles and 3 shared tackles, including a solo run stop and 3 shared run stops. He has generated pressure past a blocker 5 times over his first 2 games this season.
With tensions in Birmingham ending his tenure as a Stallion, he will get an opportunity to help the Aviators, who have struggled at times this season in stopping the run.