Film Room breakdown: Why Jabrill Peppers could be the ideal nickel corner

If you don’t know about Brett Kollman’s Film Room, you’ve been missing out. Congratulations though, now you have all weekend to catch up.

Kollman, who also writes for SB Nation’s Houston Texans site Battle Red Blog, has been doing film breakdowns of many of the top prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft. That includes Cam Robinson vs Myles Garrett, Gareon Conley, and Tre’Davious White.

As you undoubtedly know, the Seahawks need a corner. As Rob Staton pointed out in his mock draft on Wednesday, and on 3000 NFL Mock Draft on Tuesday, Seattle might specifically need an elite player at nickel to replace Jeremy Lane. Staton mocked Adoree’ Jackson to the Seahawks for that reason, but another possibility could be emerging.

This week, Kollman surprised himself when he started to dig in on the tape of Michigan All-American safety/linebacker Jabrill Peppers. Peppers, who finished fifth in the Heisman voting this year, is perhaps the most divisive prospect of the draft. Considered the ultimate “tweener” because a lot of people just aren’t sure what he is, Peppers confounded Kollman because he was not impressed with him initially during the season but had to reconsider everything after watching his combine performance. In this breakdown, Kollman talks about how Peppers could be the ultimate nickel cornerback because of his coverage skills.

Kollman concludes that Peppers is: Fast, fluid, great against slot receivers, solid against outside runs, can play safety, could potentially play some linebacker, can return kicks, punts, and might even be able to play some running back. How does that not scream, at the top of its lungs, “Pete Carroll guy!”?

Peppers could go in the top 15. He could also fall to day two. The truth is that nobody really knows. By the time the draft gets here, he probably will be solidified as a first round pick, but that’s no guarantee. If he’s available at 26, the Seahawks could definitely be considering him.