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Posted

Peppers had a good 2016 season for Michigan with 72 tackles, 16 for a loss, four sacks and one forced fumble. He was phenomenal on punt returns. Peppers also contributed on offense with 17 carries for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

The media has been busy overhyping Peppers to a degree. In speaking to NFL evaluators, they think Peppers is a great athlete who has some deficiencies in pass coverage. That is evidenced by his one interception during his entire career. Sources say they are projecting Peppers to be a hybrid dime linebacker and safety, similar to Arizona's Deone Bucannon. Peppers could go in the middle to late portion of the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but slipping to Round 2 is possible.

8/20/16: Some scouts tell WalterFootball.com that their early impression of Peppers is that he is a better athlete than Jalen Ramsey, the fifth-overall pick to the Jaguars in the 2016 NFL Draft. Peppers mainly played strong safety for Michigan in 2015, totaling 45 tackles with 10 passes broken up. On offense, he was a gadget player with 18 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown. Peppers also had eight receptions for 79 yards. He averaged 11.4 yards per punt return as well.

I feel that Peppers, as a defensive back, is a better fit as a safety than a corner. He has some instincts and is quick to diagnosis rushing plays. Peppers is also a physical tackler and doesn't hesitate to run into the scrum to make a tackle. In pass coverage, he has played a variety of techniques. Peppers has played some press-man cornerback on the outside, some off-man coverage over slot receivers, some off-man coverage against tight ends, and some zone coverage in the middle of the field. Michigan hasn't lined him up deep as a free safety, however. As a press-man corner, Peppers has the skills to battle big possession receivers. He looks a little slow to react in off-man coverage to flip his hips and run, so he can be caught flat-footed. There have been times when slot receivers and tight ends achieved some separation because of that.

I think Peppers is more of a safety for the NFL as well. With some development, I think he could be a nice weapon to be a strong safety who also contributes to playing man coverage against pass-receiving tight ends. Peppers is a good tackler and willing run defender, so playing in or around the tackle box shouldn't be a problem for him.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2017S.php#5KXvb6TIrwKVACH3.99

Posted

There was a lot of talk he'd be in the 30s with his baggage and health

Just a perfect fit for us to take that risk for 4-5 years and see where we land at the end. Kid can play.

Don't disagree. He's just a big risk it seems

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