FAB 4. I Was Wrong About Perriman

Earlier in the year I suggested – and predicted – that the Bucs would cut wide receiver Breshad Perriman after Tampa Bay’s 27-23 loss at Tennessee.

Perriman had caught just three passes for 16 yards in the previous four games he played in, and had zero catches on four targets against the Titans. In fact, when the Bucs were attempting to score the go-ahead touchdown in the last minute of the game, Perriman ran the wrong route that led to Jameis Winston’s second interception of the day.

Bucs WR Breshad Perriman – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Had Tampa Bay cut Perriman by then the team would have received a fourth- or fifth-round compensatory pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Nearly two months later, the Bucs are glad they didn’t make that roster move.

I’m glad, too.

I was wrong. Bucs general manager Jason Licht was right to hang on to Perriman, and there are several reasons why. The most important of which was his game-winning touchdown catch against Indianapolis in last Sunday’s 38-35 victory.

“It was nice,” Perriman said. “I just feel really good. I’m just happy to be able to contribute and you know, help this team any way I can. It was a big play this past Sunday and I was blessed to be able to make it.”

In the last two games, Perriman has come alive and been the receiver the Bucs envisioned him becoming when the team signed him to a one-year, $4 million this offseason to serve as the team’s No. 3 wideout, replacing DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries. Perriman had five catches for a career-high 87 yards (17.4 avg.) in Tampa Bay’s 28-11 win at Jacksonville and then had three catches for 70 yards (23.3 avg.) against the Colts.

Since the Titans game, Perriman has caught at least one pass in the past six games, including four for 42 yards and a crazy touchdown reception in Tampa Bay’s 40-34 overtime loss at Seattle. In the Bucs’ 35-22 win at Atlanta he hauled in a season-long 44-yard reception.

Bucs WR Breshad Perriman – Photo by: Getty Images

After a very slow start to his first season in Tampa Bay Perriman has posted 19 receptions for 296 yards (15.6 avg.) with two touchdowns. Those numbers are close to the statistics he put up in Cleveland last year when Perriman had 16 catches for 340 yards (21.3 avg.) and two TDs – and with three games left to play.

Perriman’s best season came during his rookie season in Baltimore where he was the team’s first-round pick in 2015, catching 33 passes for 499 yards (15.1 avg.) and three touchdowns. He doesn’t have enough time left in the 2019 season to match that production, but Perriman will see more targets than the six he’s averaged over the last two games due to Mike Evans’ absence due to his season-ending hamstring injury.

Is Perriman in the class of Evans or Chris Godwin? Absolutely not.

Would the Bucs be better off with an extra fourth- or fifth-round pick in 2020? We’ll never know, but Perriman may be one of the big reasons why Tampa Bay avoids a third straight double-digit losing season or even finishes with a winning record if he keeps playing well. And with Evans over the final three games of the year that seems mighty important right now.

Patience has paid off with regards to Perriman, and because of his late-season production the Bucs are considering bringing him back next year – likely on a one-year deal around $4 million or perhaps slightly less. Perriman, a Florida native who went to school at UCF, would love to stay in Tampa Bay.

Bucs WR Breshad Perriman – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If he keeps producing the way he has lately, Perriman might be back to once again compete with Justin Watson, Scotty Miller and a likely 2020 draft pick for the Bucs’ third receiver role next year.

“No matter what I feel like the circumstances or the situation, it will pay off regardless,” Perriman said. “It’ll be that with anything in life. This is no different.”