NFL Draft Rumors: Eagles, Breshad Perriman are being connected by general managers

There have been plenty of rumors about who the Philadelphia Eagles might pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and cornerback Byron Jones are a few names to pop up recently. The latest one comes from Matt Miller of Bleacher Report.

According to Miller, the Eagles are being connected to a specific target at No. 20: UCF wide receiver Breshad Perriman.

"The Philadelphia Eagles are being connected to Central Florida wide receiver Breshad Perriman, per several general managers I spoke with this week. I was reminded that head coach/general manager Chip Kelly loves speed, and Perriman's 4.26 40-yard dash has put him in the first-round conversation."

For what it's worth, the Eagles have shown some interest in Perriman this offseason. The Eagles hosted him on a pre-draft visit in Philadelphia in early April. Here's what we wrote at the time:

"The 21-year-old Perriman measures in at 6-2, 212 pounds. The junior finished his 39 college game career with 115 receptions for 2,243 yards, a sizable average of 19.5 yards per catch, and 16 touchdowns.

Though Perriman did not work out at the 2015 NFL Combine, he reportedly ran a blazing 4.2 40-yard-dash recently at UCF's pro day. CBS Sports projects Perriman to be drafted in the first or second round. Mike Mayock thinks Perriman will be drafted within the first 20 picks. Some think of Perriman as the No. 3 receiver in this draft class behind Kevin White and Amari Cooper, who could be top 10 picks.

The Eagles could easily have interest in a wide receiver in the first round. Perriman could fit the bill due to his combination of speed and size.

<iframe src="http://mockdraftable.com/player_embed/4813/selected/graph/" width="500" height="620" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Here's a scouting report on Perriman via NFL.com.

"Strengths - Height, weight and speed numbers that every team covets. Quick accelerator off the snap and destroys the cushion, forcing cornerbacks into "turn-and-run" mode. More sudden than most big receivers. Able to break routes off sharply or go from stop to start instantly. Consistent separation at top of his route. Always gets over the top of cornerbacks on verticals. Varies route speed and has ability to body up and box out smaller cornerbacks downfield. Explosive leaper with timing and catch radius to make the difficult catches look easy. Shows off plus body control and ball tracking on deep ball. Able to gear up or down when needed and is a legitimate big-play threat on every snap. Athleticism and long speed for yards-after-catch production. Gives good effort as run blocker.

Weaknesses - 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. Disappointing hands that might always haunt him. Slow catch readiness, allowing too many throws to beat him up. Too much double catching and his focus drops over second half of the season were maddening to watch.

Bottom Line - Rare combination of size, top-end speed and suddenness that can be found in some of the best receivers in the game. His routes are sloppy and a work in progress, but his hands keep him out of the top tier of receivers. His drops will drive teams crazy, but his physical traits and ability to hit the big play should warrant early round consideration."