Last year’s top riser in the draft process, Breshad Perriman’s blistering 4.24 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine transitioned him from high-upside project receiver into legitimate first-round target. While his athletic testing showed he had the promise of a future star, Perriman’s on-field ability showed that he may not be quite ready to be an NFL starter.
Of all places for Perriman to land, he arrives in Baltimore with a system that fits his skill set and an opportunity to start right away. Though he’ll need time to grow as more than just a speed-based separation receiver, Perriman is in an offense that can take advantage of his talents as he continues to develop.
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Primarily a vertical threat in college at UCF, Perriman averaged more than 20 yards per reception during his junior and senior seasons, often being asked to attack vertically to threaten defenses and to keep safeties at bay.
Perriman wasn’t asked to run a large number of routes, though, and doesn’t have much polish on the ones he did run, outside of go and wheel routes. He relies on short steps and burst to gain separation, a tactic that won’t generate much cushion against NFL cornerbacks who play with more consistent footwork and with more profound hip fluidity.
However, when asked to work vertically, Perriman is capable of forcing cornerbacks who can’t turn and run with him (which is most defensive backs) off balance and in recovery mode. He displayed the body control and extension away from his frame to finish highlight-reel catches in college, and it’s that big-play ability that allowed him to produce big NCAA stats.
Along with his lack of technique-based separation development, Perriman also had persistent drop concerns in college. That's likely to continue to plague his pro offense too, at least early on. All that said, Perriman has the athleticism to emerge as more than just an inconsistent, go-route receiver.
In determining Perriman’s production with the Ravens, it’s easy to plug in Torrey Smith's 49 receptions and 767 yards from last season as the expectation. However, aside from Perriman being far less NFL-ready compared to 2014 Torrey Smith, Perriman may have other hurdles to start his Ravens career.
For one, Kamar Aiken and Marlon Brown were sufficient last year in increased roles. Brown is just 24 years old with two years of experience with the Ravens and could be in line for an increased role. Both should challenge Perriman, at least early in his rookie year, for snaps, targets and receptions.
Additionally, more than one-third of Joe Flacco’s completions were to non-receivers in 2014. Justin Forsett should continue to be a big part of the passing game; Dennis Pitta could return from injury; and the team has drafted three other tight ends in the past two drafts, with Maxx Williams and Crockett Gilmore looking for increased roles.
All of those concerns aside, it’s the Josh Gordon comparison that should make Perriman the allure to optimistic fantasy owners. Gordon’s scouting report was awfully similar coming out of Baylor in the supplemental draft, and he took the league by storm as one of the NFL’s best vertical, big-play receivers. And with Flacco’s arm strength and willingness to take chances downfield, Perriman will get ample opportunity to shine in the Ravens offense.
While Perriman isn’t a worthy draft pick in shallow fantasy leagues, he’s certainly worth pouncing on early in the season if it’s clear he’ll be the starter opposite Steve Smith and can get the type of vertical separation at the NFL level as he did in college.
Just like he was as the Ravens' first-round pick, Perriman is a high-risk, high-reward fantasy selection. A Josh Gordon-like impact isn’t out of the question, and fantasy owners willing to take a flier on Perriman could be ahead of the curve on the next rookie WR surprise.
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