The player comparisons for new Ravens rookie receiver Breshad Perriman are flying.
Local scribes first pointed to former Raven Torrey Smith. ESPN's Mel Kiper compared Perriman to Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant. NFL Network's Michael Irvin, a personal mentor of Perriman's, compared him to the Colts' Andre Johnson.
Perriman himself sees someone different.
"For the most part, I compare myself to Julio Jones," Perriman said during his introductory press conference Friday afternoon. "He's kind of a big receiver like myself, but he can play as a small receiver as well. Vertically, he has great quickness and he's versatile."
The Falcons' Jones was the sixth-overall pick in the 2011 draft, 20 picks before the Ravens took Perriman.
As a rookie, Jones exploded onto the scene with 13 starts, 54 receptions, 959 yards and eight touchdowns. Since then, he's put up two 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,593 receiving yards last season to finish third in the league.
Perriman and Jones have similar builds. Perriman is 6-foot-2, 212 pounds with room to put on some more bulk in an NFL weight-lifting program. Entering his fifth season, Jones is listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds.
Ravens Wide Receivers Coach Bobby Engram also said Perriman reminded him of Jones while watching tape. Engram also threw out the name of Bears receiver Alshon Jeffrey. Jeffrey is 6-foot-3, 216 pounds and is very good at going up for jump balls. He's put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
"There are a lot of bigger receivers in the league. To me, he looked like you could take him as his own guy for his skill set and his ability," Engram said. "He's got great size. He bends really well for a big guy. He's a hard worker. … He has the ability to take a short gain and take it to the house."
While the comparisons are lofty, Perriman said he feels like he can make an immediate impact. He didn't say it brashly, and wasn't making comparisons to boast, however.
"I would like to just come in, establish myself and produce whether it's No. 1, 2 or 3," he said. "No matter where it is on the depth chart, I just want to come in and produce. I do think I'm ready. I'm ready for all challenges."
