News broke today that Michigan's Jabrill Peppers tested positive for a diluted sample at this year's scouting combine. Early reports are claiming that Peppers wasn’t feel so hot after traveling to Indianapolis from the West Coast.
Sources claim he drank over eight bottles of water before being the first player to perform out on the field in front of scouts a few months ago.
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While we'll have to wait and see what this does to his draft stock later this week, here are a handful of reasons Pepper's positive test results could impact him on draft day and beyond.
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Draft Stock
ESPN's Mel Kiper currently has Peppers going No.15 overall to the Indianapolis Colts, but one has to wonder if these positive test results could cause him to slide down team's draft boards.
This is exactly what we saw last year with Laremy Tunsil. The Mississippi offensive tackle was projected by many to go first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, but when video surfaced on draft day of the lineman smoking marijuana, he slipped to the 13 position before the Miami Dolphins took a chance on him.
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Money
Slipping down the draft board inevitably means less money. Let's use Tunsil as an example once again.
The first selection in the 2016 NFL was Jared Goff out of California. His contact is for $27,946,656 per year, and he received an $18,515,839 signing bonus.
Tunsil signed for $12,468,695 per year and a $7,259,143 signing bonus.
Would the lineman have made exactly as much as the quarterback at the number one spot? Maybe not, but it goes to show how much money can be lost when slipping down the draft a dozen spots – something that Peppers could experience in 2017.
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Trust
Remember when good 'ol Johnny Football was coming out of Texas A&M, and we all wondered if he not only had the talent to play in the NFL, but also if he could stop partying long enough to actually do what it takes to be a successful pro QB?
We all know how that blew up in the Cleveland Browns' faces. NFL teams may now have those same concerns about Peppers.
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Reputation
Even if Pepper's is proven innocent at a later date, or has a valid excuse, this simply isn't a quality beginning to establishing his NFL reputation – not to mention opening himself up to everything from fan critiques to media cheap shots.
Fact of the Day: Jabrill Peppers now has more failed drug tests than he has wins over Ohio State.
— Sports Nation Ohio (@SN_Ohio) April 24, 2017
