When we talk about draft prospects with versatility in the 2025 NFL Draft, the conversation begins (and often ends) with debate over what position Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter will play in the NFL.
But thankfully, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah offered up three other "Swiss Army knife" prospects when he spoke to reporters via conference call earlier this year.
One of the players Jeremiah mentioned in that conversation, and possibly during others with reporters for other teams, was Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues.
"Defensively, I mentioned Pegues and all the different things he can do. He’s someone who, on the defensive side of the ball, is a defensive tackle who, every now and then, will kick out and just be a big, massive edge rusher. But then on offense, he’s a wildcat quarterback, he’s an H-back, he’s a wing, he runs the ball. That’s one of the more fun, versatile pieces in this year’s draft."
Pegues is a capable and versatile defensive lineman (14 tackles for loss, 81.8 PFF run defense grade last season), which will lead to him being drafted. But he also took 22 snaps as a Wildcat quarterback, with 21 carries for 69 yards and seven touchdowns. There are NFL coaches who will find a way to use that extra skill.
Minnesota Vikings tied to Mississippi's JJ Pegues in the 2025 NFL Draft
Mason Cameron of PFF has profiled a top fit for each team on Day 3 of the upcoming draft, and Pegues was the choice for the Vikings.
"Versatility is Pegues’ calling card. He took snaps all over the defensive line, as well as in goal-line packages on offense, in college. The Ole Miss fan-favorite is a relentless, high-energy player, evidenced by his high-percentile grades as a run defender (87th) and pass rusher on true pass sets (84th). Given the creativity of Brian Flores and Kevin O'Connell, there’s no better landing spot to make full use of Pegues' skill set."
O'Connell and Flores have a case to be called the most creative head coach-coordinator duo in the league. Pegues, who started his college career as a tight end at Auburn before presumably "growing" out of it, would tap into that for both guys (imagine if he can throw the ball?).
In a recent edition of his "Too Deep Zone" newsletter, Mike Tanier had a profile of Pegues. While it's a nice, full picture of Pegues as a prospect ("an athletic, disruptive 3-tech or 5-tech lineman who can also contribute to a short-yardage offense? Sign me up."), Tanier had a funny, yet wholly appropriate punch line when it came to what he can do as a 309-pound short-yardage runner.
"He’s a one-man Tush Push!"
Pegues' versatility is in a category of its own among prospects in this year's draft class. If the Vikings add picks to their current limited haul, taking him will become far more palatable. Even without that idea or expectation, he might be on their radar.