NFL Draft rumors: Jabrill Peppers tests positive

Former Michigan Wolverines star and 2016 Heisman finalist Jabrill Peppers has tested positive for a diluted sample when he was at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2017 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 27. Many college standouts will have the opportunity of a lifetime to be selected by one of the 32 NFL franchises in one of the seven rounds in this spring’s draft. One player that will fall out of the first round entirely is Michigan Wolverines linebacker/safety Jabrill Peppers.

Peppers likely had a late-first round grade on some boards. His football talent is obvious, but figuring out what position he would play at the next level was immensely difficult. Peppers has the physique to play strong safety, but lacks the necessary ball skills to play in an NFL secondary. Though a strong tackler, Peppers isn’t big enough to play inside linebacker. Maybe he could play running back at the next level?

Despite being a tweener, there was a great deal of intrigue surrounding the former 2016 Heisman Trophy finalist. He was easily the best player that Jim Harbaugh had on his team last season. Peppers was all sorts of explosive when he had the ball in this hands.

That being said, this diluted sample easily knocks Peppers down to a day two grade. He probably was going to go in the top-half of the second round any way. Now this positive test could have him still available to be selected heading into day three of the NFL Draft.

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Peppers is the latest of an alarming number of NFL Draft prospects that couldn’t keep it together in the early part of this calendar year. This positive test easily cost him millions of dollars. He will still get drafted, but this isn’t a good look for him as he is about to embark on his NFL career.