Name: Marcus Peters
College: Washington
Class: Junior
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190
Background/Character | Leadership: 7 | Experience: 9 | Off-the-Field: 7 |
| Mental Capacity: 9 | Mental Toughness: 8 | Durability: 10 |
Peters was kicked off Washington due to numerous issues between he and the coaching staff. He was suspended against Illinois and benched for the second half against EWU because he threw a tantrum on the sideline after drawing a personal foul for taunting. He comes off immature like Dez Bryant. He is a passionate player that needs a stronger locker room to help him stay poised on the field. He has no criminal past or known issues before the current regime at Washington took over.
Final Grade: 8.33
Athleticism | Balance: 10 | C.O.D: 10 | Explosiveness: 9 |
| Flexibility: 10 | Coordination: 10 | Body Type: 9 |
Peters possesses excellent athleticism to pair with a great body frame. He’s wiry-strong with room to add more bulk to his body if need be. He changes directions without issue with his impressive natural balance. Stays low to the ground through his movements, allowing him to stay bouncy when he’s ready to break on the ball. Lower and upper body are always centered and under control. Able to make high-impact plays with his hip and ankle flexibility.
Final Grade: 9.66
Overall | Football IQ: 9 | QB Vision: 10 | Tackling: 9 |
| Range: 10 | Hit Power: 9 | Physicality: 9 |
Smart football player that reads plays before they happen. He was able to leave his man to cover another receiver in the area simultaneous to the quarterback throwing the ball because of his rare instincts. Peters is able to figure out the quarterback’s intentions as the play is still developing. Elite anticipation. Strong tackler that is willing to put his nose in the running game. Very physical player in coverage but can be overly zealous at times. Likes to feel where the receiver is so he can play the ball perfectly.
Final Grade: 9.33
Coverage Talent | Body Control: 9 | Ball Skills: 10 | Lateral Quicks: 8 |
| Hip Fluidity: 10 | Turn & Run: 10 | Closing Speed: 9 |
Truly an elite cover cornerback with his combination of athleticism and ball skills. Seems to have an innate ability to high point the football and play like a wide receiver. Really shines when he is playing press or on-man and has to transition from backpedal into a sprint, as he loses no speed and can throttle back down on comebacks without giving the receiver space. Closes on the ball with excellent burst and timing. Often defends vertical routes but lateral quickness appears to be above average at worst.
Final Grade: 9.33
Coverage Technique | Press Technique: 9 | Zone Drops: 9 | Timing: 10 |
| Hand Usage: 9 | Footwork: 10 | Positioning: 9 |
Technique can always improve, but Peters is as well polished in various schemes as he likely could be. The Pac-12 features a lot of zone coverage, so his ability to drop back the correct depth is a major asset. His understanding of leverage and timing on when to leave his zone is excellent. Puts himself in a position to play the ball whenever targeted. Off-man and Cover 3 sometimes he gets caught watching the QB too much, allowing an underneath completion.
Final Grade: 9.33
| Player Comparison: | Darrelle Revis/Desmond Trufant |
| Projected Draft Position: | 1st Round |
| Best Scheme Fit: | Press-man/Cover 3 |
| Injury History: | None |
| Career Accolades: | 2014 Mid-season All American, 2013 All-Pac-12 Second team |
| Career Stats: | 129 total tackles, 11 INTs, 35 PDs |
Final Analysis
Marcus Peters is one of the rare elite cornerback prospects to come out in recent years. He has excellent athleticism to pair with an uncanny ability to locate and play the ball as the aggressor. Peters has experience in every form of coverage and was exposed to more pass-friendly concepts in the Pac-12 than any other conference. In key matchup against Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong and Colorado’s Nelson Spruce, Peters was nearly dominant. He plays his best against top competition and was a standout amongst a talented Washington Huskies’ roster.
Amongst all eligible cornerbacks, Peters posted the best burn percentage charted in the last three years for NFL prospects. He’s able to play from day one without worry that he is a liability. Peters’ attitude and reliability needs to be investigated, but there were whispers that his coaching staff at Washington was flexing their muscles and made a point to punish Peters.
If he can mature with help of savvy veterans, he is the complete prospect. On the field, he is one of the best overall prospects with his advanced technique and build.
Final Grade: 9.43 - Top 5 Value