A failed drug test at the NFL combine could result in the former Michigan safety possibly being on the board when the Minnesota Vikings make their first pick this year.
In a bit of shocking news, it was revealed on Monday that former Michigan star safety Jabrill Peppers failed the drug test he was given during last month’s NFL Scouting Combine, this according to ESPN’s Adam Shefter.
NFL notified teams that Michigan’s Jabril Peppers tested positive for a dilute sample at the combine, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2017
Now even though the failed test was the result of a diluted sample, it is still looked upon in a negative light by some teams around the league. This news could very well lead to Peppers not hearing his name called during the first round of this year’s draft.
Could he possibly still be on the board when the Minnesota Vikings make their first selection in the draft with pick number 48 on Friday? If so, would the Vikings even be interested in adding the talented playmaker to their defensive backfield?
Minnesota has previously taken a chance on a player who failed his drug test at the combine when they decided to select Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. But the Vikings have not made a similar move since Rick Spielman became the team’s general manager in 2012.
Minnesota Vikings
Peppers is not just a typical one-dimensional safety that is easy to put aside after a failed drug test. He is a special kind of player that can bring a lot to the table.
While at Michigan, he spent time as both a defensive back and a linebacker. In addition to his duties on defense, he also returned punts, returned kicks, and even got the ball in his hands a few times on offense.
He is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and he won the 2016 Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy which awards defensive players for their excellence in on-field performance and their personal character. Current Minnesota linebackers Anthony Barr (2013) and Eric Kendricks (2014) are both past winners of the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Given the ability Peppers showed last season with Michigan when he played linebacker, he could be the type of versatile player Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer mentioned the team could be interested in when he spoke to KFAN Radio back in March.
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It is hard to imagine Zimmer letting Spielman pass on Peppers if the safety is still on the board when Minnesota picks in the second round. Right now it seems like a long shot, but the Vikings do have a history of polarizing players conveniently falling into their laps during the draft.
Could Peppers be the next?