Philadelphia Eagles Draft Countdown: Making the Case for Breshad Perriman

It's not every NFL draft a team has the chance to take a rare physical specimen with the 20th overall pick, but the Philadelphia Eagles may get just such an opportunity in 2015. That, in a nutshell, is the case for Breshad Perriman, provided the gifted wide receiver out of Central Florida is even still available there.

Perriman's stock has been soaring in recent weeks thanks in large part to his timing well under 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash at UCF's pro day, according his NFL.com profile. Combine that speed with a 6'2", 212-pound frame, and you have a receiver with the pure God-given ability to become one of the most dangerous weapons in the league.

It's not as if the Eagles don't have a need at wideout, either.

Jordan Matthews enjoyed a tremendous rookie campaign and possesses the size and athleticism to play on the outside, but he lined up almost exclusively in the slot last season. Fellow second-year receiver Josh Huff is expected to take on a bigger role, yet he was responsible for nearly as many miscues as receptions (eight) in 2014. Riley Cooper and Miles Austin are Riley Cooper and Miles Austin.

PLAYER	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
J. Matthews	67	872	13.0	8
R. Cooper	55	577	10.5	3
M. Austin (CLE)	47	568	12.1	2
J. Huff	8	98	12.3	0
S. Ajirotutu (SD)	4	45	11.3	0

Aside from special teams ace Seyi Ajirotutu, those are the only four wide receivers on Philadelphia's roster who have so much as dressed for a regular-season game, let alone recorded a catch in the NFL.

The Eagles will add a pass-catcher at some point in the draft. If Perriman is still around at No. 20, why wait? There are few, if any, prospects with his natural attributes and production at the collegiate level around that late.

Perriman averaged an astounding 20.8 yards per reception over his sophomore and junior seasons, during which time he recorded 89 receptions for 1,855 yards and 13 touchdowns. You simply can't teach that kind of playmaking ability, nor does it fall into your lap every day.

Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Of course, there's usually a reason or reasons a person with Perriman's talents could be on the board when the Eagles are on the clock. For as much as we may salivate over the measurables and gaudy numbers, Perriman is still very much a work in progress.

Perhaps the most concerning issue with Perriman is his hands. Those are kind of important for a wide receiver, right? According to Steve Palazzolo for Pro Football Focus, Perriman had a 13 percent drop rate in 2014. In other words, more than one in every 10 passes thrown his way wound up hitting the ground for an incomplete pass.

That's a lot of wasted opportunities. Perriman will need to be more dependable than that at the next level, especially in a high-volume offense like Philly's, which thrives on efficiency.

Based on scouting reports, Perriman is, not surprisingly, underdeveloped as a route-runner as well. Here's what Lance Zierlein had to say for NFL.com:

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Raw in his routes, relying on speed and athleticism over any precision. Rounds routes and is inconsistent at selling and finishing routes that don't involve him as primary target. Sits and waits on the throw rather than working back to it. Redirected in his routes more than expected for receiver his size.

"

The good news is while Perriman could be forever cursed with stone hands, route running is something he can improve upon, and there's no reason to be concerned with his work ethic. Breshad is the son of former NFL receiver Brett Perriman, who played 10 seasons in the NFL, so there's no mystery about what it takes to make it as a pro football player.

Brett Perriman had a mostly middling career, although he once posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns as a member of the Detroit Lions. Breshad Perriman has the potential to be so much more, especially in the right situation.

YR	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
2012	26	388	14.9	3
2013	39	811	20.8	4
2014	50	1,044	20.9	9

If head coach Chip Kelly is the offensive genius people say he is, if the head coach's training techniques and sports science are everything they're cracked up to be, the Eagles should definitely take a chance on Perriman if he falls to them at No. 20. There are some kinks to work out, but there aren't many athletes like this in the entire draft, not to mention that late in the first round.

ProFootballTalk reported the Eagles hosted Perriman for a predraft visit, so the interest is definitely there. If he's available when the Birds are on the clock, Kelly should definitely pull the trigger.