The Baltimore Ravens Cannot Justify Taking Jabrill Peppers With The 16th pick
Jabrill Peppers enters the 2017 NFL Draft as one of the most perplexing prospects. While at Michigan, Peppers was asked to do it all and play out of position for most of the year as he took snaps at safety, corner, linebacker, running back, and even wildcat quarterback. According to SB Nation’s Richard Johnson, he even played 11 different positions in the Michigan State game alone. Despite his versatility and physical gifts, the Baltimore Ravens need to steer clear of him in the draft.
Peppers’ work out at the combine made it hard to stick with this assessment. He worked out with the linebackers which is where he lined up for most of his snaps last season. His athletic aptitude stood out in the drills that he competed in, including a 4.46 40-yard time. His 19 reps in the bench press didn’t look impressive among the linebackers, but compared to the safeties group, he’s tied for second.
There is no doubt this kid is an amazing athlete, and his talents allow him to do many different things on the field. He put his team first by lining up with all three units and playing out of position for most of the year. It potentially could of cost him his spot in the NFL if it didn’t work out. With that said, the Baltimore Ravens need to pass on Peppers.
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Despite starting for the past two years, Peppers’ lack of interceptions is unnerving. His only career interception came this year while playing linebacker. Now before you jump in with that tired argument that he last interception by playing linebacker this year, he played safety in 2015 and record ZERO interception. He did manage 10 passes defended that season which was nine more than this year. Plus, it isn’t impossible for linebackers to get interceptions. Anthony Walker, who also plays in the Big 10, finished his career with four picks.
There is a special instinct for the ball that great safeties possess. Think about watching Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu (I know, he’s a Steeler but that dude was great) fly around the ball the entire game. Then go watch Peppers’ game against Wisconsin; he was practically non-existent. If anyone stood out in the Michigan defensive secondary that game, it was Channing Stribbling. Well, Jourdan Lewis looked pretty good too.
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The first round should be about game changing talent, and I don’t know that Peppers brings that to the table. Plus, the Baltimore Ravens already feature three safeties who can play with Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson, and Lardarius Webb. During his rookie campaign, Peppers might only bring his return skill to game day (which are very impressive). The first round pick needs to make a sudden impact this year, and Jabrill Peppers just isn’t that guy.