Green Bay Packers: Evaluating Matt Miller’s 7-Round Mock

Round 1 (27th pick): Jabrill Peppers, S/LB, Michigan

This is a bit of a surprising pick for the Packers here at the end of the first round.

For awhile Peppers has been widely regarded as one of the draft’s most elite talents. However, Miller believes Peppers could fall in the draft because his fit in the NFL is difficult to project. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound hybrid defender isn’t a classic safety, but he’s too small to be a three-down linebacker in a traditional defense.

Miller sees a specific role for Peppers in Dom Capers defense. “For the Green Bay Packers, he’s a great fit as a nickel cornerback or safety . . . there’s a natural role for him as a cover man and even as a returner.”

My Take: This is a strange pick for Green Bay, in my opinion. While I view Peppers as a top-15 prospect and like the value here, the fit is a bit puzzling. The Packers already utilize Morgan Burnett in a safety/linebacker hybrid role, and it has been working out well.

The Packers also have depth at safety with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Micah Hyde (presuming they re-sign him), and rookie Kentrell Brice. In fact, safety is one of the few positions at which they don’t desperately need help on defense.

Even though I like Peppers’ ability to make plays in the box (71 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 2016) and his ability as a dynamic returner, I’d prefer the Packers use their first pick selecting one of the talented cornerbacks still on the board. Florida’s Teez Tabor, Washington’s Sidney Jones, or Gareon Conley from Ohio State could all be good options here.

The Packers could have also used this pick to take a talented edge rusher like Auburn’s Carl Lawson or a speedy wide receiver like Washington’s John Ross. Miller had Ross, Lawson, Jones, Conley, and Tabor all go in the following 10 picks.

With the Packers’ secondary in such dire straights, Peppers isn’t exactly the answer. He’s not a traditional defensive back. He’s only recorded one career interception at Michigan and zero pass breakups in 2016. In the NFL he needs to play in the box or find a home as a nickel linebacker.