When free agency starts in a couple of weeks, I will be curious to see where Breshad Perriman winds up. After a slow beginning to his career, he’s come on nicely the last two years.
A former first-round pick, Perriman was a disaster in three seasons with the Ravens. He spent all of his rookie year on injured reserve. In his next two seasons, he had one of the worst drop rates in the league (9, versus only 43 receptions). He had some drop issues in college, and it looked like he simply couldn’t play.
But Perriman found an effective role as a deep threat in the second half of the 2018 season with the Browns, averaging 21 yards per catch. And he was able to do some of the same things with the Bucs last year. (Perriman, recall, initially re-signed with the Browns, but was able to back out of that deal after the team traded for Odell Beckham.)
The erratic hands issue seems to have been solved. He’s caught 52 passes over the last two years, with no drops.
And when Chris Godwin and Mike Evans got hurt late last year, Perriman showed he can be more than just a deep threat. He went over 100 yards in each of Tampa Bay’s last three games last year, with a 3-TD outing at Detroit (playing in the city where his dad spent most of his pro career).
With his size and speed, Perriman has more downfield ability than most receivers. Over the last two years, he averaged almost 19 yards per catch. Among the 92 receivers who’ve caught at least 50 passes over the last two years, only A.J. Brown has averaged more yards per catch.
I’m sure he’ll interest many teams as a third receiver. Key will be if there’s someone who’s willing to sign him with the intention of him being a starter.
There’s a ridiculously deep and talented group of wide receivers available in the draft. That supply-demand dynamic will make it hard for Perriman to really crush it in free agency. But a player who interests me.
| YARDS PER CATCH (last 2 years) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
| A.J. Brown, Ten. | 52 | 1,051 | 20.2 | 8 |
| Breshad Perriman, Cle.-T.B. | 52 | 985 | 18.9 | 8 |
| DeSean Jackson, T.B.-Phil. | 50 | 933 | 18.7 | 6 |
| Mike Williams, LAC | 92 | 1,665 | 18.1 | 12 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 153 | 2,681 | 17.5 | 16 |
| Josh Gordon, N.E.-Sea. | 68 | 1,163 | 17.1 | 5 |
| Kenny Golladay, Det. | 135 | 2,253 | 16.7 | 16 |
| Michael Gallup, Dall. | 99 | 1,614 | 16.3 | 8 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B. | 64 | 1,033 | 16.1 | 4 |
| Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 145 | 2,339 | 16.1 | 19 |
| Courtland Sutton, Den. | 114 | 1,816 | 15.9 | 10 |
| James Washington, Pitt. | 60 | 952 | 15.9 | 4 |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 58 | 919 | 15.8 | 7 |
| DeVante Parker, Mia. | 96 | 1,511 | 15.7 | 10 |
| Tyrell Williams, LAC-Oak. | 83 | 1,304 | 15.7 | 11 |
| John Brown, Balt.-Buff. | 114 | 1,775 | 15.6 | 11 |
| DK Metcalf, Sea. | 58 | 900 | 15.5 | 7 |
| Robby Anderson, NYJ | 102 | 1,531 | 15.0 | 11 |
| Chris Godwin, T.B. | 145 | 2,175 | 15.0 | 16 |
| Brandin Cooks, LAR | 122 | 1,787 | 14.6 | 7 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 121 | 1,771 | 14.6 | 11 |
| Josh Reynolds, LAR | 50 | 728 | 14.6 | 6 |
| Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 139 | 2,022 | 14.5 | 18 |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 212 | 3,071 | 14.5 | 14 |
| Will Fuller, Hou. | 81 | 1,173 | 14.5 | 7 |
| Kenny Stills, Mia.-Hou. | 77 | 1,114 | 14.5 | 10 |
| Amari Cooper, Oak.-Dall. | 154 | 2,194 | 14.2 | 15 |
| Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 57 | 802 | 14.1 | 3 |
| Chris Conley, K.C.-Jac. | 79 | 1,109 | 14.0 | 10 |
| DJ Moore, Car. | 142 | 1,963 | 13.8 | 6 |
| Odell Beckham, NYG-Cle. | 151 | 2,087 | 13.8 | 10 |
| Corey Davis, Ten. | 108 | 1,492 | 13.8 | 6 |
| Keelan Cole, Jac. | 62 | 852 | 13.7 | 4 |
| Allen Hurns, Dall.-Mia. | 52 | 711 | 13.7 | 4 |
| Demarcus Robinson, K.C. | 54 | 737 | 13.6 | 8 |
| DJ Chark, Jac. | 87 | 1,182 | 13.6 | 8 |
| Robert Woods, LAR | 176 | 2,353 | 13.4 | 8 |
| Calvin Ridley, Atl. | 127 | 1,687 | 13.3 | 17 |
| Marvin Jones, Det. | 97 | 1,287 | 13.3 | 14 |
| Antonio Callaway, Cle. | 51 | 675 | 13.2 | 5 |
| Donte Moncrief, 3 tms | 52 | 686 | 13.2 | 3 |
| Jarvis Landry, Cle. | 164 | 2,150 | 13.1 | 10 |
| Stefon Diggs, Min. | 165 | 2,151 | 13.0 | 15 |
| Randall Cobb, G.B.-Dall. | 93 | 1,211 | 13.0 | 5 |
| Sammy Watkins, K.C. | 92 | 1,192 | 13.0 | 6 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 153 | 1,978 | 12.9 | 10 |
| Cooper Kupp, LAR | 134 | 1,727 | 12.9 | 16 |
| Zach Pascal, Ind. | 68 | 875 | 12.9 | 7 |
| Anthony Miller, Chi. | 85 | 1,079 | 12.7 | 9 |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den.-S.F. | 137 | 1,737 | 12.7 | 9 |
| Tajae Sharpe, Ten. | 51 | 645 | 12.6 | 6 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt.-N.E. | 108 | 1,353 | 12.5 | 16 |
| Adam Thielen, Min. | 143 | 1,791 | 12.5 | 15 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 219 | 2,737 | 12.5 | 18 |
| Tyler Boyd, Cin. | 166 | 2,074 | 12.5 | 12 |
| Allen Robinson, Chi. | 153 | 1,901 | 12.4 | 11 |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 50 | 618 | 12.4 | 5 |
| Alshon Jeffery, Phil. | 108 | 1,333 | 12.3 | 10 |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 194 | 2,383 | 12.3 | 18 |
| Curtis Samuel, Car. | 93 | 1,121 | 12.1 | 11 |
| Golden Tate, 3 tms | 123 | 1,471 | 12.0 | 10 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 201 | 2,395 | 11.9 | 12 |
| Sterling Shepard, NYG | 123 | 1,448 | 11.8 | 7 |
| Kendrick Bourne, S.F. | 72 | 845 | 11.7 | 9 |
| Jordy Nelson, Oak. | 63 | 739 | 11.7 | 3 |
| Christian Kirk, Ariz. | 111 | 1,299 | 11.7 | 6 |
| Demaryius Thomas, 3 tms | 95 | 1,110 | 11.7 | 6 |
| Seth Roberts, Oak.-Balt. | 66 | 765 | 11.6 | 4 |
| Diontae Johnson, Pitt. | 59 | 680 | 11.5 | 5 |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 274 | 3,130 | 11.4 | 18 |
| Jamison Crowder, Was.-NYJ | 107 | 1,221 | 11.4 | 8 |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 174 | 1,967 | 11.3 | 12 |
| Phillip Dorsett, N.E. | 61 | 687 | 11.3 | 8 |
| Alex Erickson, Cin. | 63 | 696 | 11.0 | 0 |
| Cole Beasley, Dall.-Buff. | 132 | 1,450 | 11.0 | 9 |
| Geronimo Allison, G.B. | 54 | 590 | 10.9 | 4 |
| Mohamed Sanu, Atl.-N.E. | 125 | 1,358 | 10.9 | 6 |
| Michael Crabtree, Balt.-Ariz. | 58 | 629 | 10.8 | 3 |
| Taylor Gabriel, Chi. | 96 | 1,041 | 10.8 | 6 |
| Keke Coutee, Hou. | 50 | 541 | 10.8 | 1 |
| Albert Wilson, Mia. | 69 | 742 | 10.8 | 5 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 144 | 1,538 | 10.7 | 10 |
| Nelson Agholor, Phil. | 103 | 1,099 | 10.7 | 7 |
| Willie Snead, Balt. | 93 | 990 | 10.6 | 6 |
| Adam Humphries, T.B.-Ten. | 113 | 1,190 | 10.5 | 7 |
| Jarius Wright, Car. | 71 | 743 | 10.5 | 1 |
| Zay Jones, Buff.-Oak. | 83 | 868 | 10.5 | 7 |
| Dede Westbrook, Jac. | 132 | 1,377 | 10.4 | 8 |
| Danny Amendola, Mia.-Det. | 121 | 1,253 | 10.4 | 2 |
| Chester Rogers, Ind. | 69 | 664 | 9.6 | 4 |
| DaeSean Hamilton, Den. | 58 | 540 | 9.3 | 3 |
| Russell Gage, Atl. | 55 | 509 | 9.3 | 1 |
—Ian Allan