BALTIMORE — Height, weight and speed are the key words that come to mind whenever Central Florida wide receiver Breshad Perriman is evaluated. A big receiver that can run fast is something that is coveting by NFL general managers. Perriman created a lot of buzz when he blazed a 4.25 in the 40 at Central Florida’s pro day. That 4.2 alone will open the eyes of many but when a guy that is 6-2, 212 pound receiver runs that fast, he will have made himself some extra money.
The Baltimore Ravens have a need for a receiver that can challenge defenses down the field from the outside. Torrey Smith was their primary speed option at receiver and he is now in San Francisco. Perriman wouldn’t instantly fill the role that Torrey Smith had but he could develop into a similar kind of player.
Perriman has the ability to create instant gas off of the line of scrimmage. That threatens defensive backs right away. He is able to step on the defensive back’s toes and kick in an extra gear to explode up field on nine routes. Perriman also does a good job of stemming his route on posts, allowing him to get inside position.
Many know of him as a deep threat but another thing shows up when watching Perriman. That is his ability to make catches on underneath routes. There were times when corners played off of him out of respect for his speed. It wasn’t rare to see Perriman run the slant against the soft coverage. He showed some suddenness after he released up field and broke the route off into the slant.
His big body makes it more difficult for corners to make a play on the ball. Perriman is able to use his body to shield defenders from the throw. It’s pretty impressive how Perriman was able to catch the ball away from his body and in some cases, generate yards after the catch. He seemed to be at ease catching the ball on slants.
Unfortunately, there some quite a few concentration drops that showed when watching Perriman play. The concentration drops are something that can be worked on. Most of the time, it is due to simply taking the eyes off of the ball and trying to do too make a move before securing it. There were some times when the ball seemed to get up on Perriman quicker than he anticipated. It was almost like he had trouble locating the ball.
Regardless, Perriman is a weapon that can make big plays down the field and across the middle. The video below shows how Perriman is more than just a vertical threat. He uses his speed to get across the middle of the field and finds a window for the quarterback to throw into. The play is on a 3rd & 6 against North Carolina State in the St. Petersburg Bowl.
Perriman gets a clean release and sells the route as a vertical one initially. He then makes a break into the slant route. The defender has to break down and close on Perriman. He is never able to catch up to the faster player in Perriman as he runs the crossing route towards the opposite hash marks. Perriman makes a very good catch for the first down and gets another eight yards or so.
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2015 NFL Draft Spotlight: Central Florida WR Breshad Perriman
Perriman gets a clean release and sells the route as a vertical one initially. He then makes a break into the slant route. The defender has to break down and close on Perriman. He is never able to catch up to the faster player in Perriman as he runs the crossing route towards the opposite hash marks. Perriman makes a very good catch for the first down and gets another eight yards or so.
Teams will have a thirst for the upside that Perriman brings to the table. Guys with his measurables don’t come around too often. He is still raw as a receiver but once he learns how to set up his routes better and use his start and stop ability, he will be a problem for defensive backs.
There is a lot to like about Perriman, not to mention he has NFL bloodlines. His father Brett Perriman was a 1,000 yard receiver with the Detroit Lions. “I gained a lot from watching my dad’s tape. He showed me a lot about how to play as a bigger receiver and be able to play the slot too.”
Perriman is a prospect that many are placing into the first round lately. He definitely has the height, weight and speed of a first round receiver. However, the concentration drops, the double catches and how the ball gets on him suddenly at times could lead some to question the validity of him being a first round player.
Draft projection: 1st round, early 2nd
Why should the Ravens consider this prospect?
Perriman is one of the few big receivers that can challenge defenses with pure speed. He gets downfield in a hurry which will make defensive consider providing over the top help out on Perriman’s side. His big body is a perfect option for walling off defenders on in breaking routes and when running curls or comebacks. Granted, Perriman is a raw prospect but Ravens receivers coach Bobby Engram has done an excellent job with the receivers that he has worked with.
Engram was a dangerous slot receiver and can be a continuation of the sound advice that Perriman got from another former pro, his father. The Ravens would be able to take advantage of Perriman’s speed and have him run crossing routes that makes defenders chase him.
NFL Comparison: Torrey Smith
Torrey Smith and Perriman look similar when watching them play. Perriman is a bit more stiff than Smith and at times reminds me of Cordarelle Patterson when he makes his cuts. Both Perriman and Smith faced questions about their catching ability as a prospect. Teams are well aware of the speed aspect. There were also some questions about Smith and Perriman being able to run the full route tree.
Like Smith, Perriman will need to show that he isn’t just a deep threat. He will need to show that he can use his speed to get open on more than just the deep throws.