Jabrill Peppers fires back after analyst calls him 'overrated'
Former Michigan star Jabrill Peppers remains the most polarizing prospect in the early part of the NFL draft.
That’s what led Bleacher Report analyst Chris Simms to call him the “most overrated” in a video this week.
“I hate to say it about a good kid from Jersey but it’s crazy to give him a Round 1 grade,” Simms, the former NFL quarterback, said in the video. “Peppers is a liability in coverage and doesn’t play as fast as his 40 time. He can’t stick with NFL-caliber players.”
Simms added: “Physically he’s not on the same planet as the top safeties in this draft” and called him a “tweener on defense with no position.”
And Peppers fired back on Twitter.
“I played out of position (LB @ 200lbs) pounds, and still became an All American. How many players can/ARE WILLING to do that for their team?” he tweeted, referring to his move from safety as a redshirt freshman to strong-side linebacker as a redshirt sophomore.
Then added that he will succeed regardless.
“Call me what you want, but I will EAT regardless no matter the situation or circumstance. That's just how I'm CUT! That's on BIG BRO”
Though Simms used the one minute video to point out how Peppers shouldn’t be a first-round pick, former NFL scouts say teams just need to know how they’ll use him.
“He’s one of the tougher evaluations in this draft class,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on a conference call Wednesday. “Because he played out of position this year at linebacker, you don’t really see him do what he’s going to be asked to do at this level. The lack of production, it is what it is. He’s got one interception, in his last game. That’s something you’ve got to sort through. But you’re looking at somebody’s who’s an explosive athlete, it’s a high character, great kid. He’s intelligent. He’s going to be outstanding on special teams. I think you start there.”
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Jeremiah and his fellow NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks, both former NFL scouts, explained that teams need to use him as an attacking safety.
“I think you’re probably looking at somebody you’re going to drop down in the box and play him in that role,” Jeremiah said. “I don’t envision him as a high safety – I know some teams do. But I see him more a little bit closer to the line of scrimmage, but obviously not in that linebacker role he was playing in last year (at Michigan.)”
Brooks sees potential if his talents are maximized.
“I think he’s a ‘see ball, get ball’ player,” Brooks said. “Somebody you bring in the box and you find a way to put him in the action. He has shown the ability to be explosive and make tackles but you need to put him in the positions where he can succeed.”
Most draft projections have him at the end of the first round, as ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay do.
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