Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers' protection has one other former first-round choose within the fold.
The workforce plans to signal security Jabrill Peppers, coach Mike Tomlin stated in his Tuesday information convention. Peppers' addition is a byproduct of security DeShon Elliott's knee harm in opposition to the Jets, Tomlin added, and Elliott might be out for the Week 2 house opener in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks.
“He is a soccer participant first, positional participant second,” Tomlin stated of Peppers. “He is displayed place flexibility over the course of his profession at both security place, at run-down nickel. He is been a succesful man in a particular groups house over the course of his profession masking kicks, returning punts. He is only a good well-rounded soccer participant. And so, I am glad so as to add and have him within the fold.”
Peppers, chosen twenty fifth within the 2017 draft, spent the previous three seasons in New England earlier than a shock launch on cut-down day final month. In becoming a member of the Steelers, Peppers will face his former workforce in Week 3 when the Steelers journey to Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots.
Peppers performed simply six video games in 2024 after being positioned on the commissioner exempt listing whereas he confronted costs of assault and battery. He was later discovered not responsible in a January jury trial.
Peppers was additionally hampered by foot and hamstring accidents through the 2024 season, however he nonetheless completed the 12 months with an interception, two passes defensed, a compelled fumble and two tackles for loss. In an eight-year profession that additionally consists of three seasons with the Giants and two with the Browns, Peppers recorded 7 interceptions, 6 compelled fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries and 511 tackles. He began 26 video games throughout his three-year tenure in New England. He initially joined the Patriots as a free agent on a two-year deal, however he inked a three-year, $24 million extension with the group final season earlier than a training employees turnover this offseason.
Not solely is Tomlin accustomed to Peppers from his stint in Cleveland, however he additionally scouted Peppers as a prospect when he entered the draft out of Michigan.
“I believe possibly his Michigan performs in all probability stand out greater than his skilled performs,” Tomlin stated, requested which of Peppers' performs in opposition to the Steelers stood out to him. “He was simply used an actual distinctive approach in Michigan that basically highlighted his skills. I believe he was even a two-way participant at one level. He performed linebacker-like in a few of their bear structured fronts; he returned kicks. He was only a well-rounded soccer participant in all areas of the sport.”
Requested if he would have drafted Peppers that 12 months, Tomlin smiled.
“I do not wish to take picks that top,” he stated. “That requires you to lose lots of video games.”
The Steelers, by the best way, drafted T.J. Watt 5 picks after the Browns chosen Peppers. Reminded that Peppers was taken twenty fifth, the coach laughed.
“I simply assumed it was sooner than that,” he stated.
Peppers' addition not solely shores up a security unit that may take successful with Elliott's Week 2 absence — although his knee harm is taken into account “shorter-term,” per a league supply — however it additionally provides one other bodily presence to a run protection that gave up 182 dashing yards to the Jets.
Tomlin was blunt in what he needs to see out of his run protection in its subsequent outing in opposition to Seattle.
“I need us to be stouter,” he stated.
