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

For all the excitement surrounding Michigan’s large draft class, it may take awhile to get started.

Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft may be a few hours in before a Michigan name is called.

The Wolverines have no surefire first-round prospects as the only two that appear to have a shot are linebacker/safety Jabrill Peppers and defensive end Taco Charlton.

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Many of the mock drafts have them positioned near the end of the first round, with SI.com’s final mock putting them back-to-back at No. 30 and 31. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Peppers going in the middle of the first round at No. 15 but put Charlton well into the second round at No. 43.

Peppers continues to be the draft’s great unknown.

For months, analysts have questioned whether he’s a safety or linebacker, the two primary positions he played in college. So he tried to be accommodating and worked out at both at the NFL scouting combine.

That hasn’t made it any easier to define, though.

“I think he’s a first-round talent, but you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to use him,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said on a recent conference call. “I know day one he can be the best return specialist on your team – and don’t underrate that. You better have a plan for him on defense. From my perspective, you put him close to the line of scrimmage, there’s certain players that just are, and I think he’s a starting strong safety that’s better in the box. I think he can play nickel ...

“When you take him in the first round or any round, but I think he’s a first-round player, you’ve got to have a plan. Are you playing him on offense at all, trying to get the ball in his hands? Have a plan and develop this kid.”

Peppers has tried to control everything he could but this week didn’t help.

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported that all 32 teams were notified that Peppers tested positive for a diluted sample at the combine. Peppers’ agency, CAA, quickly responded that the use came just from overhydration, having to do all those drills.

How teams interpret that may show up in Thursday’s first round, because Mayock said Peppers’ other intangibles are an asset.

“Because he’s one of those lightning (people),” he said. “When he gets in a room, his energy is just contagious. So you’re going to want him in your locker room, you’re going to want him on the field. But you need to know what the plan is and you need to follow through with that plan.”

Charlton is a bit more of a mystery to teams because they don’t know his ceiling.

He didn’t make a major impact for his first three years at U-M, steadily progressing with 9.5 total sacks. Then he exploded as a senior, played the final five games of last season like he was the best pass-rusher in the country and finishing with 9.5 sacks in 2016 alone.

Charlton has long arms and showed he can produce against elite talent in the Ohio State and Florida State games, but some teams still place heavy value on the combine numbers.

“He’s intriguing,” Mayock said. “I wonder why he didn’t play more football prior to this year. He’s got length, he’s got power, he’s got athletic ability. He doesn’t have the twitch. I wanted him to be Carlos Dunlap (the Cincinnati Bengals’ eighth-year end). They’re a very similar size. Dunlap ran a 4.72, Charlton ran a 4.92. What you saw on tape is what I saw at the combine, where he doesn’t quite have the twitch of an elite edge rusher.

“I think he’s more a base 4-3 end. And there’s nothing wrong with that. You can be a good football player that plays 8-10 years in the league, and I’ve got a second-round grade on him.”

Michigan has two projected high second-round players in Chris Wormley and Jourdan Lewis, who teams could grab later in the first.

“Wormley is strong, he’s got some pass-rushing ability but I think he’s more a late second to third,” ESPN’s Todd McShay said. “Jourdan Lewis is a second-rounder, maybe the most instinctive cover corner in this class. He doesn’t have elite size and speed, but I think he’s going to be a great value pick.”

If the Wolverines end up with only one or no first-round picks, it will follow the recent pattern. After eight first-round picks in the 2000s, U-M only has had two this decade: Brandon Graham in 2010 and Taylor Lewan in 2014.

Michigan football eyeing a record-setting NFL draft haul

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