ProFootballFocus Drops Peppers From First Round In Latest Mock Draft
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
When it comes to Jabrill Peppers, ProFootballFocus isn't buying the hype.
Their second mock draft, released on Tuesday, leaves Peppers on the outside of the first round looking in.
That's right - ProFootballFocus envisions at least 32 players being selected before Michigan's much-ballyhooed Heisman nominee.
That's a stark departure from the norm. Peppers has been a unanimous first-round selection in mock drafts around the internet, with most outlets agreeing he'll go somewhere in the top ten. Just yesterday, CBS Sports pegged him as the fifth overall pick.
Things are made further interesting by the fact the ProFootballFocus had Peppers as a first-round pick in their first mock draft, which was released before the college football season began. Back then, PFF said he would be selected 19th overall:
"While Peppers may be moving to linebacker on Michigan's depth chart this fall, he's the athletic hybrid player for which the NFL is looking. Peppers was strong against the run (+8.3) and in coverage (+6.5) and he has the athleticism to play near the line of scrimmage while matching up with slot receivers and tight ends."
By removing him from their latest mock draft, PFF would seem to believe that Peppers actually hurt his NFL stock over the past season. That might seem impossible for a Heisman nominee, but it bears mention that Peppers, for all his versatility, failed to distinguish himself at a single position.
Peppers hasn't declared for the draft, but it was reported that his mother was interviewing potential agents last month.
