Breshad Perriman joining Detroit Lions, like father like son

The Detroit Lions knew coming into the first week of NFL free agency that the position of wide receiver was one that urgently needed to be addressed. That due to the bulk of last year’s starters hitting the open market as free agents themselves.

Kenny Golladay, Danny Amendola, Marvin Jones Jr., Mohamed Sanu, and Jamal Agnew all hit the open market this week as unrestricted free agents. Both Jones and Agnew have now landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the other three continue to search for new teams.

As for the Lions, their current wide receiver depth chart includes Quintez Cephus, Geronimo Allison, Tom Kennedy, Victor Bolden, and the recently signed Tyrell Williams. Now, Detroit’s new regime will reportedly add another name to this unit. And one with family ties to the organization.

On Thursday afternoon, ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that wide receiver Breshad Perriman will be signing a one-year, $3 million deal to come to the Motor City. Breshad’s father, Brett Perriman, played for the Lions from 1991-1996. Brett’s best season in Detroit was in 1995 when he caught 108 receptions for 1,488 yards and nine touchdowns.

Breshad Perriman was a first-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2015 NFL Draft out of UCF. Perriman struggled to live up to his lofty draft status, lasting only three seasons in Baltimore (his entire rookie season was lost due to knee injury). Over the past three years, he’s bounced around the NFL playing for the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and last season, with the New York Jets.

Perriman’s best season came in 2019 as a member of the Bucs. He posted career-highs in catches (36), receiving yards (645), and touchdowns (6) that year. It just so happens that the offensive assistant in Tampa Bay at the time was Antwaan Randle El, who is currently the new wide receivers coach in Detroit.

Last season in New York, the now 27-year old Perriman registered 30 receptions for 505 yards and three scores. He also started 12 games for the Jets, the most of his six-year NFL career so far.

The Detroit Lions appear to be assembling a ragtag team of wideouts to fill out their new receiver corps in Motown for this season. And they will likely continue to add talent to this unit when the NFL draft kicks off in April.