There are many things about the 2018 Cleveland Browns that are very unlikely. Firing a coach midseason and still being in the playoff hunt (barely) going into Week 16. Handing the offensive playcalling duties over to Freddie Kitchens who had no prior experience in that role and having success is also unexpected. However one of the more unlikely stories this season is the resurrection of Breshad Perriman’s career.
Early in Perriman’s career catching the ball did not come easy. Perriman only caught 42.5 percent of passes thrown in his direction during his two seasons in Baltimore. This is hardly what was expected of him as first round draft pick.
After Baltimore released him and a brief stay in Washington, Perriman is now in Cleveland. Of all the places that he could have turned his career around, Cleveland had to be near the bottom of the list.
Breshad Perriman: Cleveland Browns deep threat
Now Breshad Perriman is not putting up eye-popping numbers by any means, but he is making plays when they need to be made. Most notably the 66-yard catch in the win against Carolina and touchdown catch against Denver.
Considering his past issues with catching the football, this ridiculous catch came as a surprise. In any other season Perriman may not have made that catch, but he makes it now. The change of scenery and lack of high expectations could certainly factor in to his turnaround.
As mentioned above, his numbers are not eye-popping, but they are coming as of a result of a career-high catch percentage of 64.7. Perriman only has 11 catches on the year, but the times that they do come make a major impact on the game. The 19.9 yards per reception is providing Baker Mayfield with a surprisingly reliable deep threat in the passing game. It is not the volume of catches from Perriman. It is when they are happening throughout the course of a game.
What’s next for Breshad Perriman and the Cleveland Browns?
Well obviously the Cleveland Browns should consider signing Breshad Perriman to a new contract after the season. Perriman appears to have figured out how to be a productive NFL wide receiver. Baker Mayfield certainly enjoys having a deep threat to stretch the field and the Browns are scoring touchdowns because of plays Perriman is making. Signing Perriman to a new contract does not need to be priority number one, but it should be fairly high on their list. Perriman has turned into a playmaker for the Cleveland Browns and for a franchise that struggled to find them for what seemed like an eternity, now is not the time to let one just walk out the door.