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A team with a solid QB situation is going to have the worst record? Or a team with the worst record in football and a bad QB is going to pass on the most important position to take a good DE? No bias in that analysis at all haha
It'll be Deshaun Watson, I guarantee* it.
*barring another injury
Titans took Mariota last year. They do not have a bad QB situation (at least not yet).
Jabrill top 5
Butt 1st Rd.
Lewis 1st Rd.
Chesson 3rd Rd.
Wormley 3rd Rd.
Darboh 5th Rd.
that's a bit bullish on Peppers in my opinion. he's not going to be an NFL corner. if he projects to a safety then he'll need to have one helluva year. The last safety pick taken top 5 was Eric Berry. Peppers has not had an Eric Berry career thus far. I would love to eat crow a year from now, which would mean Peppers has an absurdly good year.
By the way, here is a write up on Berry his soph year. He returned for his junior year. This is just a comparison to show you where Peppers should already be in order to be on the same top 5 trajectory as Berry.
"Prior to the season, despite being a sophomore, Berry was named a team captain.[12]
For the year, Berry tied for the national lead in interceptions with 7 and returned them for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns, breaking the record he set the year earlier. Combined with the yards he accumulated as a Freshman, Berry set the all-time career SEC record for interception return yards with 487 yards, only 14 yards shy of the NCAA record for interception return yards, set by Terrell Buckley during his time atFlorida State. He also finished the regular season with 72 tackles, 6 pass break-ups and 3 sacks.
Berry also took snaps on offense at quarterback and wide receiver, gaining 44 rushing yards on 7 carries. In addition, he gained 32 yards on 2 kick-off returns.
His early success had some journalists speculating that he could end up being the best defensive player in Tennessee history.[13] He was nominated as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Lott Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Berry was named the SEC Defensive Player of the year and was a first-team All-SEC pick. He was also a unanimous first-team All American.[14]The Touchdown Club of Columbus also named him their winner of the 2008 Jack Tatum Award as well."
Maybe bullish, but only slightly. Peppers has as much athleticism as anyone who has ever played at Michigan. He was an All-American this past season in some locations and was absolutely dominant in his defensive role despite having missed enough of his first season to earn a redshirt.
And he's not "just a safety." He is a hybrid defender that can cover receivers (if he grows in this area in '16, look out) and defend the run and destroy the edge of any offense. In today's football with spread formations the new norm, he is the rare player that can defend both run and pass in a dominant way.
His versatility will make him more desirable, not less. Just a few years ago an aging Charles Woodson won the NFL DPOY operating in the position that Peppers is born for. Every DC in the League wants a guy like him.
The fact that he is called a "safety" is not because he plays a less critical position, but because he is so talented that restricting him to mere cornerbacking would be a waste of brilliant talent. So, comparisons with Berry's career accolades are not really the way to go (though Peppers compares pretty favorably, honestly).
Peppers would've been a sure-fire first rounder this past Thursday had he been eligible. If his game continues to improve this season, he is going to be a dominant player that will be drafted extremely high.
I doubt the kid even smokes weed (not that it matters to me), much less utilizes a gas mask or some other contraption that would be necessary for him to be drafted "extremely high."
I would bet that he probably smokes weed. Take it from a college football player, 90% of college football players smoke weed.
c'mon, he's not going to magically redefine any positions on defense in the NFL. What general manager is going to look at his tweener/versatility as a must have, enough to take him as a top 5 pick overall? You need to be a lockdown corner or an absolutely physically imposing ass-kicking safety to justify a pick that high.
I appreciate your fandom, I really do. But the chances of Peppers going top 5 in the draft are slim to none.
Edit: ok, I'll taste a bit of crow right now as I just googled 2017 mock draft and see this guy has Peppers going 8th overall. I will admit that I was maybe a little tough on you with my post. Maybe he can actually vault into the top 5, we'll see.
he might save a lot of people from looking silly. Know what you're saying, but how do you pass on "best football player?" It's been done, I suppose.
I agree with you UNC. Taking the Wolverine blinders off for a second... Peppers was solid on D and had a positive impact on offense in limited duty. Most of his accolades and hype come from his amazing athletic ability, versatility, physicality and instincts for the game.
He has played well so far, but not 1st round well. Perhaps he blows up this season and earns a 1st round pick. He may end up being one anyway, even if the on-field production does not match the hype and ability. That seems to be the way this is heading...
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Peppers 1st, Lewis 1st, Chesson 1st, Butt 2nd, Wormley 3rd, Darboh 4th, Thomas 4th, Clark 5th, Glasgow 5th
Clark isn't even a starter right now, interesting...
Huge corner, gotta think he'll find a landing spot somewhere
I hear you, and I'm not going to argue with anyone over a shot in the dark prediction made a year in advance. Just thought it was interesting.
I'd say he'd be an uFA to someone like the Seahawks or the Falcons where they want big corners who play one half of the field.
If he doesn't start, he's not going to get invited to the postseason scouting bowls either. But you never know what will happen throughout this summer and the season.
I'll say...
- Jourdan Lewis (top 20)
- Jake Butt (late 1st)
- Jehu Chesson (2nd)
- Chris Wormley (late 2nd/early 3rd)
- Ryan Glasgow (late 3rd/early 4th)
- Amara Darboh (5th)
- Taco Charlton (6th)
- De'Veon Smith (6th)
- Kyle Kalis or Erik Magnusson (late 6th/early 7th)
- Dymonte Thomas (7th)
Kalis or Magnusson, Gedeon, McCray, Stribling, Clark, Hill all get picked up as uFAs.
I didn't specify what round, but I had an alomst identical list while thinking about it on Friday. We could have a big number drafted next year.
McCray has 2 years of eligibility left.
Also, you didn't mention Braden. He has improved significantly.
The only reason I included him was because someone else did it below...I didn't put him on my list of names to consider, but thought maybe I accidently overlooked him when someone else included him on their list.
No, I do not think he leaves early.
You aren't the first to say that about Clark so I get it. I think it is pretty clear I am a Clark fan. Here is a guy that at this point last year never played corner in his life. Within months he was a starter for half a season.
I think there are some things to consider when you talk Clark as a draftable prospect. Height, weight, speed, his lack of experenice as a positive and his ability to play press.
From everything I've heard Clark should blow away the testing. Should be at least 6-3 in socks, weight over 205, run under 4.5 maybe 4,4 (at 6-3 he just needs to run under 4.6), jump over 40 inches.
You don't go undrafted, while having no off-field concerns, while being able to do that kind of work. You just don't.
The only other one I'll debate is Thomas but hey he still has to prove it.
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Chesson is 6'3, 207, and incredibly fast. He's got great physical tools, and if he builds upon his 2nd half of the season last year and has a monster senior year (as many of us expect), I think he'll be a 1st rounder for sure. Possibly the best receiver in the draft. Funchess didn't really have the production to match his physical tools, so that's the difference I think. Admittedly when I got to the end I kinda just threw names at the wall. I do think Clark will be drafted though given his Richard Sherman-esque profile.
It's going to have to be him vs. Hargraves all season. I think that's a huge if considering we don't know our QB situation at the moment.
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De'Veon Smith
Amara Darboh
Jehu Chesson
Jake Butt
Kyle Kalis
Erik Magnuson
Taco Charlton
Ryan Glasgow
Chris Wormley
J****** P****** (please win and Heisman can return to win another!)
Ben Gedeon
Jourdan Lewis
Channing Stribling
Jeremy Clark
Dymonte Thomas
Delano Hill
Smith 5th round
Darboh 3rd
Chesson 2nd
Butt 1st
Kalis 6th
Magnuson 7th
Charlton 3rd
Glasgow 3rd
Wormley 2nd
Peppers 1st
Gedeon 7th
Lewis 1st
Stribling 3rd
Clark 2nd
Thomas 4th
Hill 7th
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No idea why you got downvotes. Those would be all the names I would consider as well although I'll subtract Gedeon and add Hurst and Mone.
This is so early....I love offseason hypotheticals. I'll go:
1. JD - Top 15, #1 corner
2. Mason Cole - Top 25, as a combo interior guy
3. Jake Butt - Top 25, #1 TE
4. Jehu Chesson - 2nd Round
5. Chris Wormley - 2nd Round
6. Amara Darboh - 3rd Round
7. Ryan Glasgow - 3rd Round
8. Taco Charlton - 3rd Round
9. Dymonte Thomas - 5th Round
10. Mike McCray - 6th Round
11 & 12. Whichever two OL progress the best this fall (say Kalis and Braden)
This is a wild guess that Peppers returns to finish his degree, get one more run at MSU/OSU at home (even though I think we beat both this fall), and take a shot at the Heisman and a top 5 overall pick instead of just a generic 1st rounder
He's got a chance to come back and solidy himself as a captain and one of the all-time best.
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How many centers leave early?
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Peppers has top 5 potential with his athleticism and versatility. He does everything well, but hasn't found a particular "home" yet, which could hurt him. As of right now I'd say he's a second round guy, but if he continues upping his game this Fall, that could change big time. He can play anywhere that isn't a line position, and coaches will love that. I just think he needs to find a permanent position that he is clearly "the guy" at. Being a jack of all trades, something that should help, could ironically hurt him if he's a master of none of them.
Butt - late first round to early second round. Best TE in college right now, and everyone is looking for the next Gronk.
Chesson - could work his way into Day 2 if he picks up where he left off last season. Has the speed to be a real downfield threat.
Wormley - like Chesson, could work his way into Day 2 with another big year.
Glasgow - probably a Day 3 guy right now, but if he comes back healthy and picks up where he left off, who knows?
Thomas, Clark, Darboh, Braden, Smith, and Kalis all could be drafted too, or they could all go undrafted too. Next year is put up or shut up time.
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No reason Lewis can't either. But he will need to up the takeaways, like I said. Hargreaves did have Lewis beat in that department.
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