SPORTS

Michigan's Jabrill Peppers picked No. 25 by Cleveland Browns

Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan – Peppers isn’t a fit for every defense, but he’s too good of a player to make it out of Round 1. He can play safety, return kicks and would be a Swiss army knife in Teryl Austin’s defense.

Jabrill Peppers can move on.

After months of intense scrutiny, the Michigan star landed in the the first round of the NFL draft, where most expecte. He was picked No. 25 by the Cleveland Browns.

"They're going to get 200% out of me," Peppers told Cleveland reporters in a conference call. "I'm just so excited for the opportunity. I told myself if the opportunity came, not to (worry) and it came a little earlier than I expected. I'm just excited to lay it all on the line for my family and my team."

He becomes Michigan's first first-round pick since Taylor Lewan was drafted by Tennessee in 2014 and just the second since 2010. He was later joined by teammate Taco Charlton, who went to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 28.

Last season, Peppers became a Heisman Trophy finalist by doing almost everything for Michigan, playing 15 positions and 933 snaps, moving all around the field in all three phases of the game.

But he expects to be a safety with the Browns after spending most of last season out of position.

"I was filling the void playing linebacker and now I can go back to my natural habitat and where I'm most comfortable at," he said. "I get to work at one position... I'm just excited, the sky's the limit. We're going to make big things happen. We've got (No. 1 pick) Myles Garrett, he's going to be a terror up there and I'm going to be watching in the back end to hold it all together. I'm just excited for the future."

What was an asset in Ann Arbor, helping U-M to a 10-2 regular-season record, became an albatross during the pre-draft process, after he missed the Orange Bowl with a quad injury.

Mike Mayock: Michigan's Jabrill Peppers 'could start at strong safety'

Instead of focusing on his success as a safety as a redshirt freshman or his productivity as a linebacker as a sophomore in 2016, most of the attention centered on him not having a home position.

The NFL didn't help the cause by forcing him to work out with the linebackers group at the NFL scouting combine in March, even though Peppers insisted his NFL position will be at safety.

The East Orange, N.J. native took the unprecedented step of also doing drills with the defensive backs. He performed well with both groups, but analysts continued to question his landing spot, with some suggesting he would be better as a running back, which he played in high school and in spots at U-M.

Report: Jabrill Peppers tests positive for diluted sample

There was a consensus that he could be a high-level NFL return man right away after starring there for Michigan, a job he said he would "absolutely" embrace immediately. Though he said the Browns didn't mention him playing offense Thursday night, "that's definitely something I'm open to," he said.

When the news emerged from ESPN.com's Adam Schefter that Peppers had a diluted urine sample at the combine, it provided another opportunity for teams to doubt him.

Peppers' agency, Creative Artists Agency, released a statement saying the sample was due to excessive water intake while he was preparing for two days of drills. Peppers repeated that in the conference call, saying that's what he told teams, including the Browns. He pointed out his history of cramping. The water was necessary, he said.

"People can speculate what they want, I'm putting that behind me now," he said. "This is the best day of my life right here. The Browns believe in me, the coaches there. I think they know what kind of guy, a high character guy (I am.)"

Many experts said it wouldn't hurt his draft stock, and most pundits projected him near the end of the first round. However, he was not listed in the final ESPN.com mock drafts.

Peppers' tantalizing appeal with his athleticism and physicality at 205 pounds made him the draft's most uncertain prospect.

Through all the scrutiny , including a comment from former NFL QB Chris Simms saying he was the draft's most "overrated" player, Peppers proved his worth by being selected in the first round.

Now, he only has to impress Cleveland.

As for being drafted into Ohio State territory, Peppers wasn't bothered.

"At the end of the day, that Ohio (rivalry) was on the field, I'm on to bigger and better things," he said. "I'm trying to be the best pro player I can be. If they still hate me, they can still hate me. I can (not) care less. I'm trying to be the best player I can be."

They'll get their first introduction to him when he joins top overall pick Myles Garrett throwing out the first pitch at the Indians game on Friday.

Sullivan: At home in NJ, Peppers enjoying the pre-draft ride

Jabrill Peppers, Taco Charlton may be U-M's only first-round picks

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!