2017 NFL Mock Draft: Can we trust the Cleveland Browns?
By John Buhler
Jabrill Peppers
Safety, Michigan Wolverines
The Washington Redskins will need all the help they can get on defense. Josh Norman is a great cornerback and the Redskins have a solid pass rush. However, the Washington lacks the necessary dynamism to make a deep run in the NFC Playoffs.
Though we’re not sure what position he’ll play professionally, there is a lot of intrigue surrounding Michigan Wolverines superstar Jabrill Peppers. He played cornerback, safety, linebacker, special teams and ever some running back in college. Washington will find a way to integrate him into their 53-man roster every week.
Ideally, Peppers needs to play STAR or even focus on being a running back. He doesn’t have the ball skills to be a free safety in the NFL. However, moving him into the box as a strong safety could give the Washington defense a good bite of bite on run defense.
It’s a risky pick for the Redskins to make at No. 17 to draft Peppers out of Michigan. He could bust catastrophically in the NFL if he can’t carve out a meaningful role before his mid-20s. That being said, his football IQ is off the charts and maybe Washington just wants a really good football player. Positions are important, but winning matters more.