The NFL Draft begins tonight, with teams making their first selections of the three-day process. We are taking a look at some of the players who could be on the Miami Dolphins' radar as the Draft gets closer.
Breshad Perriman, Wide receiver, UCF
Measurables:
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 212 pounds
Arm Length: 32"
Hands: 9-1/4"
40-yd Dash: 4.24 sec
Bench: 18 reps
Vertical: 36-1/2"
Broad Jump: 127"
Strengths: Fits the ideal mold of a wide receiver based on size and speed. Uses that speed to get in on cornerbacks faster than they anticipate, eating into backpedals. Can change speed to create separation and is able to make cuts without loss in speed. Uses size to his advantage over smaller cornerbacks. Huge catch radius. Times his jumps to high point the ball, and tracks it well in the air. He can immediately transition from reception to full speed, picking up yards after the catch.
Weaknesses: Route running is raw, and will need time to develop; uses his speed to make up for being off the expected route. Does not attack the ball on comeback routes, which could let defenders jump the route. Concentration is a major concern, with too many double catches and drops; seems to want to make the big play on every pass, rather than ensure he simply makes the catch.
Underdog Dynasty analysis: "I tend to view this [drops] criticism as overblown. While I'll agree that Perriman has a had more drops than you want to see, at least some of this was due to QB Justin Holman's lack of touch on passes - every ball was thrown like it needed to go through a brick wall. It didn't do Perriman any favors.
"Unfortunately for Perriman, he missed the combine with a hamstring injury. It's too bad because he could have benefited with a strong performance given the concerns some have articulated about his drops. Having watched him closely for three years, I'm inclined to think that he has the talent to be drafted that early -- we will see how teams' needs stack up."
Overall: Perriman has shot up draft boards based on his measurables and performance at his Pro Day, but that does not mean he is not worthy of a high draft pick. Gets compared to Josh Gordon, and should be able to play up to that comparison. Will likely be the third or fourth wide receiver selected, and could fit exactly into Miami's offense as a rookie and develop into the number one receiver role.