10 NFL preseason Week 2 winners
By Ian Wharton
2. Bashaud Breeland, CB, Free Agent
It’s not often that someone that hasn’t played yet can be considered a winner, but free-agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland looks to be gaining leverage as the regular season nears. Breeland’s been unable to strike a deal despite visits with the Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens. Considering the cornerback play that the Raiders, Chiefs, Colts, and Dolphins have seen so far, he should be getting calls back soon.
Breeland’s an unusually good corner to still be available. His foot injury that nullified his three-year agreement with the Carolina Panthers is still lingering, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. That’s a problem, but assuming he does fully recover, he could start for the four previously mentioned teams, and others who have had subpar corner play like Seattle, Denver, Tampa Bay, and Carolina.
He’s a press-man specialist just entering his prime years. The 26-year-old allowed only 37 percent of targets to be completed for 285 yards in man coverage last year. His off-zone effectiveness is less impressive, but it’s only due to injury that a young, long, and quality man corner is still out there for the taking.