With the 25th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Jabrill Peppers. After trading down from the 12th pick with the Houston Texans, the Browns were playing Moneyball yet again. Essentially, this trade turned into Peppers and the Texans 2018 first-round pick. Sure, the Browns gave up Deshaun Watson, but that could be a small price to pay.
It looks like the Browns are, once again, trying to own the draft next year. But that’s enough about next year; what do the Browns look like right now? Well, for some, Jabrill Peppers was a questionable pick in Cleveland. But he can work, and there are plenty of reasons why.
Jabrill Peppers Can Succeed With the Cleveland Browns
Versatility
Ironically enough, this is the problem that most Peppers nay-sayers have with him. During his time at Michigan, Peppers was a renaissance man; a jack of all trades. But you know what they say about a jack of all trades; he is a master of none. However, it looks like that might be where the NFL is going in the first place. With defenses getting more complex all the time, Peppers is a great addition. While he may be a bit too small to play linebacker in college, he would be great as a hard-hitting safety. After his stint at linebacker with the Wolverines, Peppers should be able to hit like an absolute hammer.
In his post-draft press conference, Peppers noted that he might even have a role on offense. With a team as bereft of talent as the Browns, this is a fantastic sign. If Peppers does work on both offense and defense, Hue Jackson may have found himself a gem. Additionally, Peppers got highlight after highlight on punt returns last season. Since the departure of Travis Benjamin, the Browns have been anemic on punt returns. Simply put, Jabrill Peppers fills a lot of needs in all three phases of the game.
The Right Coach
In the 2016-17 off-season, the Browns signed Gregg Williams as their defensive coordinator. After watching film of Peppers on defense, it’s clear that this was a Gregg Williams pick. Sure, it satisfies the analytics department as well; the versatility will tell you that. However, Williams has had players like this before, and they’ve been dynamic. If coach Williams can pull the same magic out of Peppers, the Browns may have lucked out on defense.
Peppers fits very well in Williams’s very aggressive scheme. Due to his history of linebacking, he knows how and when to blitz. Peppers’ instincts are incredible, and sometimes, you just know. As a swiss army knife of a player, as he is often called, Peppers will find a place in the NFL. If there’s any defensive coordinator that can pull something out of him, it’s definitely Williams.
A Time of Need
As mentioned before, Peppers fills a lot of needs for the Browns. Not the least of which is that of free safety. While Jabrill Peppers is not a true free safety, he doesn’t need to be. All he needs to be is a pure athlete that can fill a need almost anywhere on the field. From punt returner, to wide receiver, to even wildcat quarterback, it all comes back to his versatility. As a swiss army knife, Peppers is ready to plug and play at multiple positions. Now that is a useful draft pick.
Conclusion
Jabrill Peppers might just be the most unique player in this draft class. Additionally, he could be the biggest risk or reward. It seems, however, that Gregg Williams knew what he was doing with this pick. You can tell where the analytics department was going with the selection, and hopefully, it pays off. All logic points to Peppers succeeding in at least one position, if not multiple. Browns fans just have to hope that his coaching is willing to work with his talent. If the coaching staff is willing, Peppers might just bring shut-down defense back to the Dawg Pound.
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