By Paul Macrie, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
The NFL Draft is less than a month away, and there are many players the Eagles could target at 14th overall, or if they trade up or down, it could make things even more interesting.
The bottom line is the team is in desperate need of playmakers all over the field, regardless of position or side of the ball. This is a crucial draft for the organization seeking to build the team around its young quarterback Carson Wentz.
Jabrill Peppers is one of the most intriguing prospects that has entered this year's draft. The do-it-all athlete was a star for three seasons at Michigan, where he played both sides of the football, and excelled on special teams too. Peppers earned snaps at 15 different positions on offense, defense and special teams during his collegiate career, and was a first team All-American and Heisman finalist in 2016.
At the combine in early March, Peppers ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, and tested out well in the vertical and broad jumps. Anyone that carefully watches his game tape will get a quick indicator that what he did at the combine wasn't a fluke. He is a player that will be a difference-maker in the league, regardless of what position he plays. If he is available at 14, the Eagles will have to consider selecting him.
Peppers is a surefire first-round pick due to his elite athleticism, superior open-field tackling skills, instincts and versatility. He has created a lot of discussion amongst the scouting community in regards to his position versatility. He can play outside linebacker at the NFL level, but he is a tad undersized at 5'11" 213 pounds, but he should be able to put on more weight without losing his explosiveness.
The popular placement for Peppers at the next level is at safety, a position that isn't a need for the Eagles, at least in the short-term with Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod under contract for the next several seasons. However, that shouldn't deter the organization from snagging a potential star that could change the complexion of the rebuilding team.
Some scouts and experts raised some questions about Peppers when it pertains to his ball skills at defensive back. He only had one interception at Michigan, but he can cover ground and contain/shutdown top-flight receivers and tight ends. Pass defense is a major issue for the Eagles right now. It has been a subpar area for the past several seasons, and Peppers could be a player that helps at safety and perhaps outside linebacker. The prevailing thought is he can't be an effective corner in the NFL, but it is worth a shot to see if he can do it in OTAs and training camp, if selected by the Eagles.
Selecting the best player available is normally the best approach to drafting. The Eagles have many needs, and can't be fixated on reaching to take a corner, receiver, running back, defensive end, linebacker or any particular position. They need playmakers, plain and simple, and Peppers fits that description.
He will be a player that a fan base such as Philadelphia will fall in love with. He can return kicks, punts, though special teams appears to be the team's strength at this time. Darren Sproles can still return punts, but having a player like Peppers is a superior insurance policy at returner.
Theoretically, if Dalvin Cook, Haason Reddick, Reuben Foster, Marlon Humphrey, John Ross and Peppers are there at 14, which player should the Eagles take? Of course, there are other intriguing names that could be available at that point, but these names are possible targets. Peppers offers the most upside with his versatility, something that always benefits an NFL team. The more a player can do to help the team, the better they are for the long haul.
There are no issues taking Reddick, Foster or Humphrey, while Cook and Ross can benefit an offense that needs another playmaker as well. But Peppers is a special type of talent that doesn't come around every draft. The others are common in each draft. If the Eagles placed Peppers as a hybrid safety — much like they do with Jenkins — he would be a younger, much-better version of Jenkins.
The word on Peppers is he is a flat-out competitor. Which organization wouldn't want a player that competes and makes plays? He isn't the last piece for the Eagles ultimate pursuit of building a championship team, but he sure would be a vital piece. In a league where explosive plays are a necessity, he would immediately be a threat to increase those chances in Philadelphia.
Though it is anyone's guess what the Eagles' front office decides to do with that first selection on April 27, Peppers at the very least needs to be in consideration. He is a player that hasn't been talked about often amongst the Philadelphia media during the pre-draft process. That is a mistake and should increase in the weeks ahead.
