Why the Slide Series
This series was created a number of years ago in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects went unselected in NFL drafts. For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player and/or the reasons other teams passed on that prospect. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media’s expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?”
Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
The Expectations
In 2022 and 2023, Perkins was one of the most devastating defenders in the SEC. He was all over the field for the Tigers and was a dynamic playmaker. In 2022, he totaled 72 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception, and four passes batted. In 2023, Perkins recorded 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 74 tackles, and four passes batted. Things took a turn for the worse in 2024. LSU started dropping him in coverage, and Perkins was not the force he had been in the first month of the season. Then he went out before the midway point with a torn ACL. In 2025, he came back and flashed his old form, but was not the dynamic force he had been as an underclassman. Perkins totaled 55 tackles, three passes batted, four sacks, three interceptions, and a forced fumble in 2025. Perkins was thought to be a potential day-two and mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However slid to the sixth round.
The ‘Why’
In speaking to team sources, they say that Perkins slid because the tape from the last two years was not impressive. Some sources said teams did not know where to play him as well. At 6-foot-1, 223 pounds, Perkins is undersized for the NFL.
The Atlanta Falcons ended Perkins’ fall, and that was a good landing spot for him. Atlanta lost some veteran talent in free agency, and they have a wide-open depth chart behind projected starters Christian Harris and Divine Deablo. Deablo is a similar style player to Perkins, so Deablo could provide a good example for Perkins in his efforts to adapt to the NFL. Sources felt that Perkins would have to go back to being used like his early years at LSU, and also be the force on special teams that he was during his freshman season. The Falcons also have a new coaching staff that is not loyal to the picks of the previous regime. Perkins landed with a team that will give him a true shot to make the 53-man roster, and he could end up sticking in Atlanta.
2027 NFL Mock Draft - April 28
Fantasy Football Rankings - April 5
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 26
