Perhaps no player has performed better early on at training camp than third-year cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who has already hauled in a pair of interceptions.
It was an expected situation once Josh Norman was inserted into the lineup.
When the All-Pro cornerback had his franchise tag rescinded by the Carolina Panthers in April, only to sign with the Washington Redskins – the only team he visited during his short-lived stint as a free agent – two days later, the question of how the move would impact Bashaud Breeland kept popping up.
Breeland was thrust into a starting role early in his rookie season, replacing DeAngelo Hall with the starters after the veteran suffered a torn Achilles just three weeks into the 2014 campaign.
Instead of crumbling under pressure, Breeland thrived. His development was even more evident during his sophomore season, highlighted by an early season performance against the New York Jets when he forced three takeaways in the first half of the game.
But with Norman now commanding great attention, offenses will have their hands forced into testing a growing Breeland.
Through the first four days of Redskins training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va., Breeland has hauled in a pair of interceptions. On passes he hasn't picked, Breeland has made it difficult on Pierre Garçon, DeSean Jackson and others.
"I feel like I've matured a lot," Breeland said. "Coming into my rookie year I really didn't get my feet as wet as much as I thought I was. I was thrown into the fire so I had no choice but to mature."
Even with Norman – who had one of the best seasons by a cornerback in recent memory in 2015 – now in the fold, Breeland's mindset is to become the best cornerback in the league.
Check out behind the scenes images from Cornerback, Bashaud Breeland's 2016 Redskins Photo Shoot.
"My personal goal is to be the best DB in the league and be the best DB for myself and for my team," Breeland said. "I want to help my team win in any way possible wherever they need me to play."
That confidence doesn't go unnoticed by veteran teammates.
"I've seen film on him from last year and throughout OTAs making spectacular catches," safety David Bruton Jr. said. "Heck, he just strung together three great practices this past week and he capped it off with a big time interception the other day so it's amazing to see the skill set we have in the secondary this year."
Norman sees Breeland trying to "outdo me, outdo anybody else that's out there on that football field."
"Once he develops that confidence and swagger about him to where no one can beat him, he'll be just fine because he has that in him to be," Norman said. "So I'm looking forward to him having a super year. Whatever I can do to help him and show him just by not only talking to him but just by showing him to the actions that we do, that's going to be a good challenge or good test to see towards that because we're going to have fun with it. We really are."
