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The Washington Redskins are looking to upgrade its wide receiving corps. After working out Breshad Perriman on Monday, the Redskins are signing the former 2015 first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Redskins went with a youth movement this season keeping seventh-round pick Trey Quinn and undrafted rookie Cam Sims on their initial 53-man roster to go with Maurice Harris and starters Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, and Paul Richardson. Unfortunately, Harris has been bothered by a concussion that has lingered for a month. He has been inactive for each of the first two games. Meanwhile, both Quinn and Sims underwent ankle surgery after getting injured in the Redskins’ season opener against Arizona. Sims was injured on the opening kickoff and Quinn on a punt return in the third quarter.
Both players were placed on injured reserve but can return later in the season. In the meantime, the Redskins need depth and talent for their fourth wide receiver. The team signed Brian Quick and Jehu Chesson last week, but neither was a factor in the offense in Sunday’s loss against the Indianapolis Colts. Chesson was targeted on a third down incomplete pass that he was out-positioned by a Colts defender, leaning the Redskins to add at the position.
Perriman never materialized into the wide receiver the Ravens hoped for when they drafted him 26th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Central Florida. Perriman missed all of his rookie with an PCL sprain. He struggled to get back for the 2016 season but ultimately played all 16 games, finishing the season with 33 catches for 499 yards and three touchdowns. He regressed his third season in 2017, appearing in 11 games and registering 10 catches for 77 yards. He was ranked as the worst wide receiver in the NFL in 2017 by Pro Football Focus.
The Ravens declined a fifth-year option on him in May and released him during final cuts before the start of this season.
Perriman has great speed, he clocked in at 4.24 at the NFL Combine in 2015. However, his speed and potential never came to fruition. He struggled to get open and lost confidence.
His potential may outweigh the struggles of Quick and Chesson, although Chesson appears to be one heck of a special teams player coming away with a special teams stop and nearly blocking a punt. The Redskins have struggled mightily to get the football on the outside in the passing game. In Week 1, the Redskins wide outs had eight catches for 85 yards combined. In Week 2, they collectively had 10 receptions for 108 yards. A large reason could factor in the lack of depth and inability to mix and match personnel with Quinn, Harris, and Sims out.
Washington wants to get the ball on the outside and attack down field more than they have this season thus far. Having a speedy receiver like Perriman could help and more importantly, spell and short the reps for the starters Richardson, Doctson, and Crowder. By signing Perriman, it appears the Redskins are banking on a breakthrough from him in some shape or form.
