The Not Too Early 2017 Draft Thread

[Crossbones]

Peppers has become overrated.
3rd or 4th best safety prospect in this class.

#19.95

I don't believe you. You're sandbagging.

 

[Chris_77]

I honestly think he needs to play CB and stay there early on. He gets compared to the wrong AZ Cardinal DB IMO. I bet his workouts are about identical to P. Peterson. The only reason he didn't play CB exclusively is because of Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling. Two guys who will play CB in the NFL. He could play S, but he will be a better corner. At least early on. If he's there at 24? Fuck yeah take him.

Size wise, he projects to a good sized DB. He coverage skills seem questionable.

I just don't like drafting guys where you have to guess which position they're going to play at the next level. More often than not, it doesn't work out. Jacksonville moved Myles Jack all over the field this year trying to find a spot for him and it never really worked out. I'm not saying he's a for sure bust but I don't want to spend a first round pick trying to find out.

 

[BigTron]

Peppers is a football player. Lets not forget he's electric as a return man day 1. Dude played LB this season btw and was in the secondary before that. He was flying around making tackles and playing solid coverage most of the year. His stats are not going to impress anyone unless you count the fact he played offense, ST & defense.

I think he is actually being underrated if he's ranked in the late first. Id shit myself if he landed on the Raiders. Michigan had the #1 defense this season too. Dude can play.

Can tackle, can make plays with the ball in his hands, can cover and play on third down...

 

[007]

How he translates to the NFL is all that matters.

As a safety prospect he's a 2nd round guy. Maybe late first.

Playing offense and LB in college doesn't change that. He won't be doing that shit anyways.

 

[BigTron]

How he translates to the NFL is all that matters.

As a safety prospect he's a 2nd round guy. Maybe late first.

Playing offense and LB in college doesn't change that. He won't be doing that shit anyways.

I see many similarities to the kid from UCLA Myles Jack that the Jags drafted. Dude is just a football player. Id also say he is every bit as good as the kid the Carolina Panthers drafted as a coverage LB? Forget his name… undersized coverage guy went early...

Put him at KR/PR day one. Line him up somewhere on defense all three downs. He can tackle and hit so you dont have to hide him on running downs. He can also likely cover WR/TE/RB in the passing game. I dont think he will be an NFL superstar or anything (possible, Idk) but I do see a player who will be a productive starter for many many years. He just already does so much well I dont feel like your expecting him to learn new stuff or do anything he hasn't already done. He hasn't been an INT guy, Ill give you that. But he moves faster than everyone else on defense IMO. Just seems like he has a feel for the game.

I can agree that he will need to find a DC/HC who can use him wisely. Hell, no reason not to use him at RB & WR too. Again, he looks comfortable anywhere. With all the draft busts every year I think Peppers is a safe player to take. Ive watched all his games and he won't be a bust from what I can tell, he is very passionate about football and loves to play. Not going to be a slacker type.

.

 

[Crossbones]

How he translates to the NFL is all that matters.

As a safety prospect he's a 2nd round guy. Maybe late first.

Playing offense and LB in college doesn't change that. He won't be doing that shit anyways.

@007 .... Wahtcha talkin' bout Wilis?

 

[Chris_77]

I see many similarities to the kid from UCLA Myles Jack that the Jags drafted.

Well, that's the point. Jacksonville can't find a position for Jack.

 

[007]

I am late getting into draft mode so I'll try to find more on him soon. As far as the Buchanon/Jack/Shaq Thompson comparisons those are on the right page...And they were drafted in the proper area at 20-35. There was never this type of hype.

I want to see his hips, his speed, how he covers a TE, ball skills and how he tracks passes in the air. Relevant Safety skills.

RB and return highlights mean shit all. I doubt he does it in the show anyways.

 

[Chris_77]

I am late getting into draft mode so I'll try to find more on him soon. As far as the Buchanon/Jack/Shaq Thompson comparisons those are on the right page...And they were drafted in the proper area at 20-35. There was never this type of hype.

I want to see his hips, his speed, how he covers a TE, ball skills and how he tracks passes in the air. Relevant Safety skills.

RB and return highlights mean shit all. I doubt he does it in the show anyways.

I think the one plus for Peppers is that he's not a tweener.

He's got prototypical DB size.

 

[alteredst8]

Kid seems like the perfect fit for a rotating safeties system that doesn't really designate a guy as a FS or SS. Thought I saw something last off season that showed what Norton wanted out of his saftey play. It basically said that you stayed on your side at all times and depending on the way the offense lined up you would either be a SS or a FS. Nelson doesn't seem like a fit for this particular style of play and Allen although he can he hasn't exactly been lighting it up.

Joseph can play both and I think Peppers would be able to as well. Not saying the guy is the best safety in the draft at all but, @ pick 24 if available he probably is BPA.

 

[BigTron]

I am late getting into draft mode so I'll try to find more on him soon. As far as the Buchanon/Jack/Shaq Thompson comparisons those are on the right page...And they were drafted in the proper area at 20-35. There was never this type of hype.

I want to see his hips, his speed, how he covers a TE, ball skills and how he tracks passes in the air. Relevant Safety skills.

RB and return highlights mean shit all. I doubt he does it in the show anyways.

I think he will check all those boxes.

And he def passes the eyeball test when watching the #1 ranked defense. He was the leader on the field and off.

If he is being mentioned as being around at our pick, I think its fair to assume he could play ST's or offense. Much like Charles Woodson from Michigan

I wasn't gonna bring that name up, because its unfair to Peppers haha

But he is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He also shows that he can catch etc. I cant really explain the low INT #s, maybe since he switched to LB this year? But I know he can catch and make plays with the ball in his hands, so he should be a better pro in that dept.

Again, the lack of INT and PD's is noticeable and worth concern. But watching him play kinda makes you a believer. I also would agree the hype is overblown. He was a top 3 prospect and the hype never went away going to a Harbaugh led Michigan #1 defense. He also runs his mouth to Ohio State fans on twitter etc. So Im biased and love the guy obviously haha


But Lewis, Butt and Peppers are all NFL guys. Not sure where they get drafted, but I expect to quote this posts 5 years from now and see them all still int he NFL doing good things. Taco Carlton and Worlmey have some skills too. Michigan was a good team this year on D.

 

[BigTron]

This draft is stacked with DBs also. Holy cow.

 

[Armyr8rfan]

How he translates to the NFL is all that matters.

As a safety prospect he's a 2nd round guy. Maybe late first.

Playing offense and LB in college doesn't change that. He won't be doing that shit anyways.

A lot of the same knocks that you read about him were the same ones many had about Jalen Ramsey as far as turnover production. As far as what I could see him doing here, especially knowing we are trotting out the same scheme next year. All the shit Malcolm Smith is asked to do. Cover the TE and backs in the pass game. Cover slot WR's here and there. Blowing up screens. Would be even better than Smith at chasing sideline to sideline in the run game. He's also a really good blitzer. IMO if he was just put at CB he could develop into a shutdown guy. But, I'm just specifically thinking what he would be asked to do if we actually got him, which we won't. Throw in his KR/PR prowess and all of a sudden with him and Richard we would have probably the best 1-2 punch return wise in the league. ....... Dude is gonna be really good. I have an issue with the turnover production just like I did with Ramsey last year. But Ramsey was put at CB, left alone, and he turned in a studly rookie year there. Peppers is every bit if not more the athelete Ramsey is. With more versatility. He's gonna go high. We have no shot at 24. We are probably wasting a lot of time even entertaining this idea.....But damn.....it would be nice to see him not giving up all the shit Malcolm Smith does in the pass game.

 

[BigTron]

Well, that's the point. Jacksonville can't find a position for Jack.

I haven't watched much on him this season. Maybe they should put him at RB like he played in college? They need one of those.


I was mostly just using a the comparison to point out versatile players are popular in the draft. Dude got drafted really high with a bad knee from UCLA. Peppers was a heisman candidate who also played in all 3 phases of the game. That will add value when the draft gets closer and everyone has run and lifted.

I think the Shaq Thompson draft slot makes sense when projecting Peppers too. Peppers played LB last season, so you'd be getting a CB/DB coverage skill set that can play LB on 3rd down.

 

[Armyr8rfan]

I think he will check all those boxes.

And he def passes the eyeball test when watching the #1 ranked defense. He was the leader on the field and off.

If he is being mentioned as being around at our pick, I think its fair to assume he could play ST's or offense. Much like Charles Woodson from Michigan

I wasn't gonna bring that name up, because its unfair to Peppers haha

But he is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He also shows that he can catch etc. I cant really explain the low INT #s, maybe since he switched to LB this year? But I know he can catch and make plays with the ball in his hands, so he should be a better pro in that dept.

Again, the lack of INT and PD's is noticeable and worth concern. But watching him play kinda makes you a believer. I also would agree the hype is overblown. He was a top 3 prospect and the hype never went away going to a Harbaugh led Michigan #1 defense. He also runs his mouth to Ohio State fans on twitter etc. So Im biased and love the guy obviously haha


But Lewis, Butt and Peppers are all NFL guys. Not sure where they get drafted, but I expect to quote this posts 5 years from now and see them all still int he NFL doing good things. Taco Carlton and Worlmey have some skills too. Michigan was a good team this year on D.

Taco Charleton. Don't be surprised if he's the first Wolverine drafted. He's rising. Fast. As he should. He was unstoppable after he got over the ankle injury. As far as Peppers lack of INT's, really most of his coverage was on RB's and he would just make a tackle. But he had 16 TFL's. Typically in coverage QB's stayed away from him other than the swing pass game. The few times I saw him give up a catch to a TE or WR it was bang bang, catch/tackle in tight man to man. He's gonna be good. But Taco beat OT's like a drum at 6-6 275 from LDE and LOLB. His first step at that size and his ability to bend, is near elite....Butt gonna slide because of depth and talent at TE along with the ACL. But(t), he's gonna be a really solid starting TE somewhere. I love Lewis. But his size gonna cause him to fall. He's probably the best man to man guy I've seen out of UM since Woodson tho. He's better than Marlin Jackson who was pretty good in the pros. He a very good tackler for his size as well...Stribling is a guy who would have been drafted, still may be, if not for his ACL. He's really solid in man. Also has good size. Kinda reminds me of a meaner David Amerson (2015 version). He may wind up being a steal....Few other guys gonna be solid pros off that team.

 

[Armyr8rfan]

This draft is stacked with DBs also. Holy cow.

Very deep. Desmond King, Tra'Davious White and Jourdan Lewis all stayed, all played well, and will probably all go lower this year than they would have last year. That's pretty crazy.

 

[TheMadStork]

How he translates to the NFL is all that matters.

As a safety prospect he's a 2nd round guy. Maybe late first.

Playing offense and LB in college doesn't change that. He won't be doing that shit anyways.

#tweener

 

[BigTron]

Desmond King is another prospect who gets the Tron stamp of truthiness. He will be balling on sundays too!



Marlin Jackson! Thats a name I haven't heard in awhile. He was a nasty hitter. I used to love that circle smash celebration he did after hitting people. He got injured or something right? Career ended early.

Scary to think how many good players Michigan had on D. Gonna be rough next season replacing that. At the same time, they couldn't stop the QB scramble for the millionth year in a row. The major reason Ohio State beats Michigan every year these days… Urban Meyers slippery QB offense... I digress.

I also think Michigan will have a few other players drafted. The WR's might have a career in football. And a few of the no name LBs who stepped up this year will play STs in the NFL.

 

[Armyr8rfan]

Size wise, he projects to a good sized DB. He coverage skills seem questionable.

I just don't like drafting guys where you have to guess which position they're going to play at the next level. More often than not, it doesn't work out. Jacksonville moved Myles Jack all over the field this year trying to find a spot for him and it never really worked out. I'm not saying he's a for sure bust but I don't want to spend a first round pick trying to find out.

His coverage skills aren't questionable. He simply was not asked to cover down field very often, especially this year. The talent, skill set, size and speed are all there. It's just that UM had jack shit at LB other than Mike McCray. And two NFL caliber CB's who were already proven starters. So their D.C. Created a "viper" role for him. And he did everything he was asked to do very well. If was asked to stay at CB, he probably would be the first CB taken. In the end I think his versatility may actually cause him to drop a tad. To 24? No I don't think that far. But the guy is a bigger faster Matthieu.

 

[Armyr8rfan]

Desmond King is another prospect who gets the Tron stamp of truthiness. He will be balling on sundays too!



Marlin Jackson! Thats a name I haven't heard in awhile. He was a nasty hitter. I used to love that circle smash celebration he did after hitting people. He got injured or something right? Career ended early.

Scary to think how many good players Michigan had on D. Gonna be rough next season replacing that. At the same time, they couldn't stop the QB scramble for the millionth year in a row. The major reason Ohio State beats Michigan every year these days… Urban Meyers slippery QB offense... I digress.

I also think Michigan will have a few other players drafted. The WR's might have a career in football. And a few of the no name LBs who stepped up this year will play STs in the NFL.

Mason Cole at C, probably gonna be one of if not the first center taken in the draft. Reminds me a lot of Max Unger. Size and skill are nearly identical. As were their careers. Played solid at LT and really good at C. Versatile as hell.

Yeah Darboh and Chesson both will play. Chesson may blow up at the combine. Someone gonna watch his tape against Hargreaves last year and against some good CB's this year and fall in love....the guy gets on a team with a good deep ball thrower he might be a really big surprise. Darboh is a solid guy. Good size/speed. Good hands. Tough. Might be a solid #2 WR. Chesson had a higher ceiling though.

Mike McCray stayed again, I think it was smart. He's gonna be a really good pro if he can stay healthy. He's a Bill Belichek type all the way.

De'veon Smith might be a steal at RB. He's got great size, but he's gonna run a 4.6/4.7. He's gonna be a late rounder UDFA. But he's that RB that is so hard to tackle he's gonna make a roster and be around a while....Thomas Rawls up in Seattle got beat out by him. Very similar backs. Smith can play.

They are gonna have probably 10 guys or so off this team in the NFL. Not bad considering they haven't been putting out a whole lot of those types of guys the last 7-8 years.