Peria Jerry was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons to come in a help elevate the defensive line. As a rookie, Jerry started and played in just two games recording just one combined tackle. He elevated his splay slightly in year two where he saw action in 16 games but never started. He recorded nine tackles and two sacks that year.
Jerry never seemed to find his footing until his final year where he played in 16 games, starting in 14 of them and recording 33 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. After that season, however, Jerry retired suddenly during training camp, leaving money on the table.
Then at the end of the 2014 season, the Falcons cut him even though he had already retired. The reasons for Jerry's early retirement are still unknown, but he played only five years in the league. For a first-round pick that was supposed to become a star on the defense, that is not very long.