Could Michigan's Jabrill Peppers drop out of NFL draft's 1st round?

Submitted by Bill22 on
Several of the NFL "experts" are projecting that Jabrill Peppers will be at the end or even out of the 1st RD of the NFL draft. My belief is that after the scouts see him at the combine this won't even be a question. Regardless of position, the freak athleticism alone is worthy of a 1st RD pick. His actual football ability should also be top half of the 1st RD worthy. http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverine… Could Peppers drop out of draft's 1st round?

GhostofJermain…

February 12th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^

Seattle will not pass.  I highly doubt he gets that far.  Lions might take him at #21 if still on board (fingers crossed). I still believe once he tests out he will go in the top 12. 

LSAClassOf2000

February 12th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^

The Lions do have a long history of utilizing players in such a way that even the brightest prospects end up looking average, although this is a dynamic problem - less than good team, less than good coaching, less than aware of actual needs, etc...

In the unlikely event that Peppers fell to the Lions, I would be excited to see him on the NFL franchise I cheer for but also hoping against hope that even they couldn't possibly screw this up. 

ndhillon

February 12th, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^

Ihenacho is a rare bright spot for us and he's a SS
-As far as FS, can Peppers cover worthy of a first round pick? I didn't see that from the UFRs, but maybe I missed something.
-That leaves nickel back and ILB. We know peppers struggled in the slot vs 2 way goes and he'd be in a division with Cole Beasley. I don't know if he's first round material as a Nickel.
-ILB...obvious question is obvious: can he hold up physically?

The Pope

February 12th, 2017 at 10:46 AM ^

Look at the needs of Green Bay, Houston, Oakland, or even New England, and it's easy to see his skill set and athleticism help them. I see his true position as a S/LB hybrid that a lot of 3-4 defenses have developed. A player who can cover some, but also provides speed, versatility and extra run support.

He will get drafted in the first round.

NateMich

February 12th, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^

Depends on how many teams will value talent over positional need in the first round. Peppers is a freak athlete and definitely usable all over the field but he has no true position yet. That scares away more teams, mainly because teams want a for sure starter with that first pick. If a team falls in love with him and has a clear plan in mind for him then he could go. but if a team sees him as a safety; they may pass on him for a safety with less raw ability, but more experience playing the position.

coldnjl

February 12th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^

No...NFL teams put WAY too much emphasis on the Scouting Combine...An arena where he will be off of the charts...add Coach Harbaugh's opinion, and he will be gone by pick 20

pbmd

February 12th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^

 he would drop out of the first round.

my sources say he would be eligible to be drafted in later rounds.

apparently other players enter the nfl as free agents and are not drafted in any of the 6 rounds.

MichiganMan_24_

February 12th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^

It's a deep draft, especially at DLine and DB..Jabrill feels like a system guy because he is such a tweener..Sua Cravens-ish..It's a total toss up where he ends up because of this, if a few teams pass he could slide late 1st-early 2nd..I don't think his combine numbers will factor, everyone knows he is a freak..He needs to impress in the coverage drills.

uncle leo

February 12th, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^

Jabrill. Where careers go to perish.

My advice? Pull an Eli Manning and go somewhere else. You have too much potential to waste away in the honolulu blue and silver, minus the black accents now.

WolvinLA2

February 12th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^

Oh stop.  Those days of the Lions are over.  Sure, we're likely not winning a Super Bowl any time soon but the Lions are no worse than about 2/3 of the league.  Many guys have been drafted by the Lions and had good careers here, others have come for a few years and showed up elsewhere to still have success.  I know it's super popular and funny to take on the "Hur hur the Lions suck" schtick but it's no longer funny nor true.

Michrider41

February 12th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^

and he puts people in them. He is exciting to watch no matter where he plays, offense , defense or special teams. He would even make a Lion's game worth watching.

A2 man

February 12th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^

Once the scouts see him at the combine. He will go round one.Is it possible, the way he didn't play in the bowl game hurt him? Again not saying he wasn't hurt, simply asking could it hurt him? where as maybe it didn't hurt Christian McCaffrey or even leanord fournette?

A2 man

February 12th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^

Once the scouts see him at the combine. He will go round one.Is it possible, the way he didn't play in the bowl game hurt him? Again not saying he wasn't hurt, simply asking could it hurt him? where as maybe it didn't hurt Christian McCaffrey or even leanord fournette?

jbrandimore

February 12th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^

The last one taken among the top prospects invited to the draft.

For those that think guys without definite positions who test well at the combine make automatic 1st round picks, explain Shoelace and Pryor drifting to the middle rounds?

Add in the fact Jabrill missed about 1/3 of his collage games due to injury, and you have a 2nd round pick.

I think he should have come back with a promise to play safety 100% of the time.