Taking a look at Breshad Perriman and if the New York Jets can bring the best out of him:
After four seasons of inadequate play from the former first-round pick, New York Jets’ free agency signee Breshad Perriman is looking to bounce back in 2020 and prove his worth in the NFL.
At just 26 years old, Perriman has never reached 650 yards in any given season; in fact, he has never started more than four games either. Posting an atrocious catch rate of 52.2% in 2019 was nothing short of dismal.
The Jets aren’t getting a first-round value in Perriman, but rather a mid-round pick at best going into his fifth season in the NFL. Having changed his number three times, a bit of superstition seems to be his only way of changing the narrative surrounding his statistical output.
However, Jets’ offensive coordinator and head coach Adam Gase is confident he can bring the best out of the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
“I’m excited to see what he can do in this offense,†Gase said Monday, in his first comments about the former first-round draft pick. “His skill set fits in well with what we do. We feel like he can do multiple things for us. He can create explosive plays. He can do some good stuff after the catch.â€
Last season, Perriman had his best campaign, despite his poor catch rate. He posted 645 yards and six touchdowns, proving to be a threat in the red zone and in the intermediate passing game. He averaged 17.9 yards per reception, the second-highest in his career. He also tallied 36 receptions, more than double in his previous two seasons.
Moving forward, I anticipate Perriman sliding in as a Jets’ number two or three pass-catcher. In the second round of the most recent draft, the Jets selected Baylor standout Denzel Mims, who also had trouble catching the ball in recent years. Those issues seemed to alleviate in 2019, as he went from double-digit drop numbers down to less than 5%.
He can be Sam Darnold’s number one wide receiver, but having a capable number two in Perrimam is ideal. After losing Robbie Anderson in free agency to the Carolina Panthers, the Jets have bounced back adequately and provided Darnold with more weapons to utilize.