Can Breshad Perriman bring 2018 successes to Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
By Cory Kinnan
Continuing to shake off his “bust” label, Breshad Perriman hopes to build off of a 2018 rebound season with a strong year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In the opening days of NFL free agency, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reached an agreement with wide receiver to give them a deep threat after the trade of DeSean Jackson. The former first round pick of the Baltimore Ravens back in 2015 struggled for most of his career to stay healthy and with dropped passes, however last year he turned a corner with the Cleveland Browns; can he bring that progress with him to Tampa Bay?
Perriman was set to return to the Browns this offseason, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $4 million. However shortly after an agreement had been reached, the news of a blockbuster deal that included the Browns landing Odell Beckham Jr. broke; Cleveland allowed Perriman to back out of the agreement and he signed the same deal with the Buccaneers.
While Perriman’s 2018 numbers do not look like a receiver who had a turnaround year with just 16 catches, 340 yards, and two touchdowns, he was a vital receiver for Baker Mayfield in the 10 games he played for the Browns a year ago. Frequently finding himself on the receiving end of deep bombs and crucial third down passes, Perriman was graded at a high 71.8 last season according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
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He was targeted just 25 times last year after being picked up eight games into the season, so converting on 16 of those targets projects to a high level of productivity for Perriman. The speedy 6-2 receiver averaged over 21 yards per reception one year ago and did not drop a single catchable ball for the Browns in 2018; when Mayfield targeted Perriman last year, he excelled, soaring to a 134.2 quarterback rating.
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Seeing reps as the Buccaneers’ deep threat and as the third receiver behind Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, Perriman has once again earned back trust from the league after rebounding a year ago. Can he continue his resurgence, become a favorite and trustworthy target for Jameis Winston, and smoothly take over the role left by Jackson for the Buccaneers in 2019?