Michigan Football: Donovan Peoples-Jones will be a 2nd-round NFL draft pick
Former Michigan football wide receiver Donovan Peoples has first-round talent according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper, which is why he’ll be a 2nd-round pick.
Michigan football is going to have a number of former players hear their names called over the course of the three-day NFL draft that is scheduled to take place next month.
While many other events have been canceled or postponed, the NFL is reportedly sticking with the NFL draft dates of April 23-25 according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
As part of the NFL Draft set for April 23-25, the NFL is working on a plan to incorporate charitable efforts to help increase relief funds for those significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More details forthcoming in coming weeks.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2020
Whether that’s a good idea or not is debateable, but for prospects like Peoples-Jones, it could hurt their draft stock, because getting a chance to work out for individual teams probably won’t happen.
The good news for Peoples-Jones is that he at least got to participate at the NFL combine, along with 11 other Michigan football players. He put together an impressive performance that showed off his jumping ability and his speed.
The problem is that talent, athleticism and all the measurable things have always been there and NFL scouts know that. After all, there is a reason why Peoples-Jones came to Michigan football as the No. 1 wide receiver of the 2016 class.
Unfortunately, for Peoples-Jones and Michigan football fans, he never really lived up to that potential. He had his moments and really put together his best campaign as a sophomore when he hauled 47 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Over the last two seasons, People-Jones caught a total of 14 touchdowns and returned a punt for a TD too.
In terms of his draft stock, it’s been a little varied as folks have a different opinion about the 6-foot-2, 208-pound receiver. But in a conference call with local reporters, here’s what Mel Kiper of ESPN said via Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News.
Asked Mel Kiper on a conf call today if his opinion of DPJ changed after combine numbers. Kiper had been lukewarm. He still has a 4th-rd grade on him "He has first-round talent but didn't play like a first rounder"
— angelique (@chengelis) March 25, 2020
Kiper has been lukewarm on Peoples-Jones and he’s not wrong that the wideout never lived up to his first-round ability. That’s why the kid won’t be a first-round pick. But that statement, “He has first-round ability” is exactly why the former Wolverine will get picked by the end of round two.
When there are teams in need of receiving help such as the Green Bay Packers or even New England Patriots, the idea of getting a first-round talent in Peoples-Jones might enticing enough to pull the trigger.
We see teams bet on potential all the time and it’s not like Peoples-Jones didn’t do anything with the Wolverines. In three seasons, with questionable quarterback play, he caught 103 passes for 1,327 yards. He also averaged 12.9 yards per reception.
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I’m on record saying he should have come back because then, he would have had a shot to live up to that first-round potential. But the raw talent is there and while it’s easy to see Peoples-Jones falling to the third or fourth round, here’s betting he comes off the board by the 64th pick.