8 years after almost connecting with the Steelers on draft night, Jabrill Peppers happy he has now

Separately and on consecutive days this week, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and veteran NFL safety Jabrill Peppers acknowledged they had eyes for each other during the lead-up to the 2017 draft.

It never will be known with certainty if the Steelers would have selected Peppers with the No. 30 overall pick they held that season because the rival Cleveland Browns selected Peppers five picks prior.

The Steelers, then, had to settle for an edge rusher out of Wisconsin named T.J. Watt.

“It just so happened that I got taken a couple slots ahead,” Peppers said Wednesday after practicing with the Steelers for the first time, “but I think you guys made out pretty well.”

Watt has four times been named AP NFL All-Pro. Though Peppers never reached that level, he has been a longtime solid starter in the league. Sunday’s debut with the Steelers will be his 100th NFL game, with 85 starts.

But Peppers’ third team, the New England Patriots, unexpectedly released him at the end of training camp.

“It just is what it is,” said Peppers, a versatile safety. “Sometimes, you’re not good enough. You play a long time in this league, you’re going to get traded or cut. It is what it is.

“I’m happy Tomlin made the call. He was a coach I definitely said I wanted to play for before I retired. It just happened a lot sooner than I thought. I’m happy to be here.”

Peppers said he expects to play special teams immediately and that his role on defense in the short term will depend on how quickly he assimilates into the scheme and playbook. Peppers is ostensibly replacing starting strong safety DeShon Elliott on the gameday roster after Elliott suffered a knee injury during this past Sunday’s season opener at the New York Jets. Elliott will not play in the home opener Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Peppers over his career has most often played as an “in-the-box” (strong) safety but also regularly has lined up as a free safety, slot/nickel cornerback and even as an outside corner. That seems to mesh well with the secondary the Steelers have assembled.

But for now, Peppers is working to — as Tomlin would say — hop on the moving train in time to make an impact as soon as Sunday.

“It’s been a different experience for me,” Peppers said of getting cut and sitting unemployed for two weeks, “but at the end of the day that’s the nature of this league. Business is business. You can’t put your feelings into it. Wherever you end up, they want you. You’ve got to go in there, put your best foot forward, do whatever they ask you to do. That team wants a football game, so that’s what I plan to do.”