DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 15: Breshad Perriman #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a first quarter touchdown during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
The New York Jets moved quickly to replace the departing Robby Anderson, signing former Buccaneers’ wide receiver Breshad Perriman to a one-year deal.
The Jets were hoping to keep Robby Anderson in the fold but that didn’t work out when the 26-year-old signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. General manager Joe Douglas wasted little time finding a new target for Sam Darnold, inking former Buccaneers’ wideout Breshad Perriman to a one-year deal.
Perriman, a former first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens, really emerged at the end of the season for Tampa Bay. The Bucs inserted Perriman into the starting lineup after Mike Evans went down with an injury and he responded nicely, catching 25 passes for 506 yards and five touchdowns over Tampa Bay’s final five games.
That is an admittedly small sample size but Perriman is still just 26 and is, in fact, three months younger than Anderson. The Jets get a guy who still has upside and could be a bargain candidate for breakout potential next season.
Contract Details
Perriman will get a one-year deal worth about $8 million, with $6 million guaranteed. This fits with Douglas’ trend of making value adds on short term deals.
National Reaction
There’s no question that losing Anderson hurts the Jets but Perriman was quietly very productive in his limited opportunities last season. Pairing Perriman with Jamison Crowder, a healthy Chris Herndon, and a couple of wideouts in the draft could give Darnold the tools he needs to begin ascending into franchise quarterback territory.
The Jets also have to feel good about the fact that this is a one-year deal so there is virtually no risk here if Perriman’s performance at the end of the season was a fluke. Perriman was the top receiver left in free agency after Anderson signed and the Jets had to get him, so the one-year deal is a win-win for both sides since Perriman can try and put together a career year on starters reps before testing the market again next spring.