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Baltimore Ravens Draft Pick Predictions: Breshad Perriman

By Brett Foote

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Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Breshad Perriman (Central Florida) poses for a photo with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

NFL teams generally use first round selections on players they feel can come in and be immediate contributors.  This much we know.  And that is very much expected to be the case with the Ravens’ first round draft pick of 2015, Breshad Perriman.  The Ravens needed a receiver with size and speed, and they went out and got him.

Now the question is, can he live up to those lofty year one expectations?  Ravens fans and the organization alike have waited patiently (more like impatiently) year after year for a true, dominant receiver to emerge.  Torrey Smith looked to be that guy, but alas, it never truly came to fruition.

Perriman comes to Baltimore dripping with potential, measurables, and a strong character.  He literally has everything you would want from a potentially dominant pass catcher, aside from (at times) shaky hands.  Perriman seems intent on correcting that problem, as well as learning to run a full route tree.

In reality, I don’t expect the Ravens to throw too much at the rookie this season.  But this is a team ready to compete for another Super Bowl, so extracting maximum output from their rookies is a must. Perriman will be placed in a position to succeed and will line up as a starter from day one.

He has the benefit of learning from offensive guru Marc Trestman and the elder Steve Smith, which is a major boon.  Trestman has demonstrated the ability to extract the most from his offensive players and scheming to their strengths while compensating for their weaknesses.

In a perfect world, Breshad Perriman would step on the field and abuse opposing secondaries on his way to offensive rookie of the year.  He has that kind of upside.  His speed and ability to haul in contested passes are a perfect match for Joe Flacco’s deep ball.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Perriman could be Torrey Smith 2.0 and struggle with drops while being limited to out routes.  Maybe he struggles in press coverage with the big, physical corners of the NFL.  It wouldn’t be a surprise, as rookie receivers often do.

But the last couple of seasons have proven that wide receivers with the traits Perriman possesses can come in and produce in year one.  And I think he will.  I don’t think he will immediately become Julio Jones, but he has that kind of ceiling.

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Having said that, Breshad Perriman is a pretty good bet to hit 1,000 yards receiving in year one, with 5-7 touchdowns a realistic possibility.  Only two things will stop him from hitting those marks: opportunity and/or slow development.

If he can come in and learn the offense this offseason, and the Ravens give him enough snaps and targets, it’s a no brainer.  Torrey Smith always saw lots of targets, with the ball coming his way 101 times last season even while playing with fellow target hogs Steve Smith (139 targets) and Owen Daniels (88). There’s enough goodness to go around.

So you can call me overly optimistic if you want, but I have pretty high hopes for Breshad Perriman in 2015.  But we’ll get a much better handle on his potential impact in the next several weeks.

Next: Darren Waller: Tale of the Tape

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