Bashaud Breeland says he can become NFL’s best CB, or at least come close

9:18 AM ET

RICHMOND, Va. — Just as the ball was released, Washington Redskins secondary coach Perry Fewell already celebrated. His pupil, cornerback Bashaud Breeland, had executed the play perfectly, turning the proper way, and putting himself into position to make a bigger play.

It’s what Fewell has wanted to see over the past year. It’s what Breeland finally showed. So when Breeland then completed the play by intercepting this Kirk Cousins fade into the end zone, Fewell was long into his celebration. Breeland had opened up to the inside, allowing him to keep his eyes on Cousins — and therefore see the ball. That wasn’t happening in the past.

“He made improvement from a year ago,” Fewell said. “He would play with his back to the quarterback. It’s been a long, arduous process, but now he’s playing with vision on the ball. Because he’s playing with vision on the ball, I can say, ‘Yeah, Breeland!’ because I know he sees the ball coming out.”

Breeland hasn’t been perfect in camp — receivers, notably Pierre Garcon, have caught passes against him on occasion. But Breeland has still looked as good as any defender early in training camp. Every practice, Fewell, in particular, is shouting superlatives at Breeland for one play or another.

“I don’t want him to wake up,” Fewell said, laughing.

Breeland doesn’t hope to — or plan to — anytime soon. After two good years to start his career, Breeland said …

continue reading in source espn.go.com