1. Jabrill Peppers, linebacker/safety, Michigan
Even before the pre-draft process, there were rumblings that Peppers was “more hype than substance,” as one top unnamed NFL executive put it.
He sees himself as a pure safety, but NFL teams are certainly not convinced. Some see him as a hybrid linebacker, while others think his impact might be best felt on the offensive side of the ball.
One thing nobody can deny is that Peppers, who moves well with or without the ball, is certainly not a ball hawk. He had just one interception at Michigan, and it was a gift on a tipped pass. Of further note is the fact he defended just 11 passes in 27 games for the Wolverines.
Then there’s the issue of Peppers’ size. At 5-foot-11 and just 213 pounds, he’s not going to be a guy who can take on blockers to stuff the run at the line of scrimmage. He’ll need to have quite the creative defensive coordinator on his side to make a big impact in the NFL as a hybrid box safety.
The bottom line is this: Peppers might end up becoming a decent pro or even very good. But by no means should be expected to become the next Tyrann Mathieu, which is something that’s been tossed around.