Philadelphia Eagles roster outlook: 3 offseason options for 2020
By Hunter Doyle
2. Breshad Perriman is another nice option.
‘The Birds’ desperately need a second deep threat behind DeSean Jackson. His age, recent abdomen injury, and inability to stay healthy have proven that he can’t be the only guy that Philly relies on to stretch the field. For that reason, they may want to bring in Breshad Perriman.
In 2015, he impressed scouts during the pre-draft process with a 4.2-second 40-yard dash during his Pro Day at Central Florida. That and his six-foot-two, 215-pound frame made him a first-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens.
The 26th-overall selection didn’t see the field for another year due to a knee injury, but in 2016, he hauled in 33 receptions for 499 yards and three touchdowns. That was underwhelming, to say the least, and in 2017, he struggled with injuries again and only played in 11 games, finishing with ten catches for 77 yards.
The Ravens moved on in 2018. Perriman’s next stint with the Washington Redskins lasted just six days before he landed with the Cleveland Browns. Perriman stayed healthy for the remainder of the year, and in ten games with the Browns, he only caught 16 passes but averaged 21.3 yards per catch.
After a step in the right direction, 2019 was a breakout year for Perriman when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He excelled when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with injuries towards the end of the season, and in his best season yet, he hauled in 36 passes for 645 yards with six touchdowns. He also produced his highest snap count of the season, playing 57 percent of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps.
Perriman finished fourth in the NFL with an average of 17.9 yards per catch, and according to NFL.com’s Next Gen Stats, he had an average cushion of 5.9 yards. That tied him with Chiefs speedster Tyreek Hill, and during the Buccaneers’ final three games, Breshad started and caught 17 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns.
Now that he’s healthy, he’s capable of being a reliable starter and the deep threat or decoy in any offense as a backup outside receiver. He won’t always run an amazing route tree but his speed allows him to gain separation. His injury history and lack of consistency could result in a low-cost, low-reward deal that the Eagles could capitalize on. Here’s a guy that might be coming into his own.