2015 NFL Draft: Marcus Peters scouting report

Acme Packing Company's 2015 NFL Draft preparations continue this week as we roll out more scouting reports on potential targets for the Green Bay Packers. Today, we examine Marcus Peters, cornerback from the University of Washington.

Overview

Year: Junior (redshirt)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 197 pounds

Strengths

In a draft that contains several long, press corners, none might be more capable than Peters. He can knocks around receivers at the line of scrimmage and forces them off of routes. He also possesses both functional straight-line speed and can quickly change direction. When the ball is in the air, Peters sticks closely to receivers without losing sight of the football. He rarely loses on jump balls, even against big receivers.

Weaknesses

On the field, Peters doesn't possess great recovery speed and can be burned deep by faster receivers. His physical play is likely to draw unwanted penalties, at least early on in his career. However, the bigger concerns lie off the field. He was suspended during the 2014 season for his behavior on the sideline during a game and was later kicked off the team for an alleged altercation with one of his coaches. He is not a fit for every locker room.

Verdict

While Peters comes with concerns, his upside is enticing enough to take a risk late in the first round. Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers prefers to have a large press corner to attack the bigger receivers in the division like Calvin Johnson and Alshon Jeffery. Peters won't step into that role on Day 1, but he could develop into those responsibilities over the course of his first few seasons.