5 former Detroit Lions who might be done in the NFL

3. WR Breshad Perriman

The Lions made Perriman one of their “marquee” free agent signings in 2021, then cut him before the season started when he underperformed to that point. After a detour through the Chicago Bears where he didn’t play a game, he landed back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers–where he had the best stretch of his career in 2019. In six games for Tampa Bay last season, he had 11 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Chris Godwin’s recovery from a torn ACL opens up some opportunity for Tampa’s other wide receivers not named Mike Evans or Russell Gage to make hay during offseason work and now training camp upcoming. But there is a numbers game for Perriman to navitage–Tyler Johnson, Jaelon Darden, Scotty Miller, Cyril Grayson, Devin Thompkins, Vyncint Smith, Jerreth Sterns.

Perriman could be trade bait for the Buccaneers, as other teams possibly look for a cheap veteran who has flashed as a deep threat at (rare) times. But it’s hardly out of the question he just winds up getting outright cut, and he’s had little success anywhere else besides Tampa Bay.

Perriman may convince another team or two he has something to possibly offer before his NFL career is over. But if Tampa Bay doesn’t keep him heading into the season, the other 31 teams could very well send a message he can no longer play in the league by the time he turns 29 just before Week 1 (Sept. 10).