NFL draft 2015 results: Marcus Peters drafted by Chiefs at No. 18

Former Washington cornerback Marcus Peters will join the Kansas City Chiefs after begin picked in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. Peters was the 18th overall pick.

In a draft class that isn’t believed to have an elite prospect at cornerback, Peters stood out. The 6’0, 197-pound cover man possesses great length and athleticism. His willingness to get physical with receivers made him perhaps the best press corner on the board.

However, Peters doesn’t come without concerns. He was suspended for a game during the 2014 season due to a sideline confrontation and was later kicked off the team for an alleged altercation with one of his coaches. Talented players are typically given considerable leeway when it comes to issues of this nature, but Washington dismissing Peters strongly suggests a history of problems beyond those known to the public.

At the same time, Peters has expressed remorse for his actions at the NFL Scouting Combine and during meetings with teams. To his credit, Washington did allow him to participate in its pro day, a sign that perhaps he has mended fences with the school and coaching staff.

If those troubles are truly behind him, Peters has the potential to become the best cornerback in his class. He intimidates receivers with his size and strength and possesses the quickness to stick with deep threats. His on-the-field flaws such as footwork can be ironed out with NFL coaching.

Peters did well at the combine. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, jumped 37 1/2” in the vertical leap, registered 121” in his broad jump and finished the 3-cone drill in 7.08 seconds. He was also the top performer at his position in the 60-yard shuttle, running the drill in 11.26 seconds.

Peters will be looked upon to fill the void in the secondary left by Eric Berry after an illness forced him out of football indefinitely. Although there are character questions, Kansas City was willing to take a chance in order to bolster its struggling secondary. An experienced coach like Andy Reid is one man who can help Peters learn the expectations of a professional football player.

Peters played three years with Washington. Despite missing time in 2014 for suspension and dismissal, he never finished a season with fewer than three interceptions. He also racked up 30 or more tackles in each campaign.