Jabrill Peppers declares for NFL Draft: Will he be a top-10 pick?

Jabrill Peppers has announced his intention to enter the NFL draft: will he be a top-10 pick?

Heisman Trophy finalist Jabrill Peppers has been one of the most talked about college football players all year. This morning, in a tweet, Peppers announced he is declaring for the 2017 NFL draft:

In the attached story, written by Sports Illustrated, Peppers had the following to say:

"“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Peppers said. “I’m choosing between cementing my legacy as a college player and starting my pro legacy. It’s something you dream of when you were a kid. I was torn between the two.”"

Regardless of the decision to leave early, it’s hard to argue that Peppers hasn’t already cemented his legacy as a college player. It’s amazing enough that Peppers is as highly regarded as he is without playing a single definite position. That same fact is the reason why many wonder exactly where Peppers will fall come late-April.

His most natural position seems to be as a defensive back, either as a safety or cornerback. However, he also was a dynamic return-man and showed promise as a running back. Peppers averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 27 attempts in 2016.

The athleticism that Peppers possesses is the reason why many believe he is a top-10 pick. Forget the questions about his position, you don’t pass on somebody with his skill set. Many things don’t transfer to the NFL level, but if there’s one thing that does, it’s athleticism.

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It’s hard to imagine Peppers going in the first five picks, but it’s feasible that we see him go somewhere in the 6-12 range to a defensive-needy team like the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints or Cleveland Browns.

Peppers is an unrefined weapon. With a little (or a lot) of coaching, he could be a nightmare for opposing offenses, and even defenses, in the NFL.