​This time last year, many were wondering how the Cleveland Browns were going to utilize defensive playmaker and first-round pick Jabrill Peppers. Would he be a strong safety? Nickel? WILL backer?
Instead, Cleveland essentially put the hard-hitting defensive back at the free safety position for much of the year, removing him from a lot of plays with the intention of allowing him to play with more speed. Fans even joked about his positioning all year, engaging with the Michigan product on Twitter.
Bro how long is this joke gonna be a thing 😂 https://t.co/uu1oSoLbbI
— JP5 (@JabrillPeppers) April 14, 2018
Peppers has seen your jokes, but he is ready to cast the jokesters aside with his play this season. After a pedestrian rookie season in which he accrued just 57 total tackles per Pro Football Reference and had to wait until the season finale for his first career interception, Peppers could see his play increase with ​the addition of Damarious Randall in the secondary.
Jabrill Peppers expecting better things in second season https://t.co/bnyVzGTy7S
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 27, 2018
Randall will presumably take over the free safety position, allowing Peppers to play at his more natural strong safety position. Rumors also suggest that ​Peppers could take over the primary return role for Cleveland this year, giving him more opportunity to make an impact.
The New Jersey native has a lot to prove in his sophomore season, but Peppers appears ready for the challenge.
