There’s never a dull moment with the Bucs when new players become available on the market. That was again the case this week, when Tampa Bay fortified their depth by adding wide receiver Breshad Perriman and tight end Darren Fells. Injuries have hit the Bucs receiver room hard, so getting two key pickups could be more than just emergency options.

This isn’t the first rodeo for either player in Bruce Arians’ offense, which helps. Perriman actually played the best football of his life in Tampa Bay, posting 36 catches for 645 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Over the final five games of the season, Perriman went off.

5 catches, 87 yards
3 catches, 70 yards, 1 touchdown
5 catches, 113 yards, 3 touchdowns
7 catches, 102 yards
5 catches, 134 yards, 1 touchdown

Playing without Mike Evans or Chris Godwin in the lineup for much of that stretch, Perriman was essentially the team’s top option. It’s not the same situation in 2021, but it’s not far from it either. Evans should play on Sunday, but Godwin, Antonio Brown and Scotty Miller are all question marks. Brown is unlikely to play, and Godwin’s injury is part of why Perriman was added to the roster. Miller should play, but it would be a surprise to see him out there for even half of the team’s snaps. If Perriman is mentally ready, he’ll probably play on Sunday.

Based on his production in the Bucs offense in 2019, he should be fine, right? Well, a lot has happened since then. Perriman flamed out after a disappointing year with the Jets, got cut by the Lions and couldn’t get on the field for the Bears. Not exactly awe-inspiring stuff when you consider how bad those three receiver rooms have been.

Bucs HC Bruce Arians and OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Still, none of those teams have the coaching and system in place that the Bucs have. For a guy like Perriman, who needs the confidence boost from his environment, that’s huge. You could sense his relief to be in Tampa Bay when he spoke to the media on Wednesday.

“I’m just thankful to be back,” Perriman said. “I am really just going to focus in on the playbook. I’m just happy to be back. Coming back here just felt good. It feels like the right thing and the right place for me. It was just a great feeling to come in and see everybody’s faces. There is nothing but good energy here. So I am really happy and blessed to be back.”

You think he likes playing for Arians in Tampa Bay?

On the field, Perriman isn’t a tough evaluation. He’s a big, vertical threat who can make tough grabs down the field when he’s feeling it. Consistency has always been an issue, and he’s never going to be a well-rounded player. Drops have been a problem most of his career, but Perriman had just one drop on 65 targets in 2019. When he’s comfortable and his coaches believe in him, it shows in his play.

Talent has never been a question. Perriman is 6-2, 210 pounds, ran a 4.24 40-yard dash and jumped 36.5 inches at his pro day. He’s a certified freak, capable of making highlight reel plays in flashes. Or, at least, he was.

A lot of football fans and some Bucs fans will say Jameis Winston made Perriman during that 5-game stretch. But the tape, uh, shows something else. Like, the exact opposite story.

So what can Perriman do with Tom Brady as his quarterback? That remains to be seen. Perriman’s weaknesses are route-running, change-of-direction/speed, attention to detail and inconsistent hands. He can be a maddening watch due to the variance in his game. He’s at his best in the vertical passing game, where he can use his size, speed and leaping ability to make plays.

Asking Perriman to play Chris Godwin’s role would be a disaster. They are complete opposites in many ways. Perriman fits more of the mold of Scotty Miller or Mike Evans. Expect Evans to continue in his current role, with Tyler Johnson stepping into Godwin’s shoes if the veteran receiver misses time. Perriman will provide an outside field stretcher, similar to Miller or Cyril Grayson. He can step into the slot on occasion, but it’ll be mostly out of stacked formations.

Even as a decoy, Perriman should be able to help the Bucs. If his confidence isn’t shot from his last three stops, there is still talent here to be utilized. If Brown, Godwin and Rob Gronkowski are all out on Sunday, the team will need Perriman to step up. There’s an opportunity – albeit brief – for Perriman to resurrect his career in Tampa Bay. Again. Will he make the most of it like he did last time?