Marcus Peters: Breaking Down Washington CB's Pro-Day Workout

Of all the potential first-round prospects taking part in pro-day workouts as part of the predraft process, Washington cornerback Marcus Peters has as much at stake as any of them. He got the chance on Thursday with fellow Huskies NFL draft prospects. 

Peters is coming off a disappointing showing at the scouting combine in February. His physical measurements were fine at 6'0" and 197 pounds, but a 4.53 40-yard dash and lack of polish with coverage and ball skills knocked him down a peg. 

Despite the doubts that crept up after that workout, Peters has maintained his confidence, as you can see with this comment to Robert Klemko of The MMQB:

“I’m the best corner in the draft for a reason,” Peters said. “I’ve got three years' worth of tape. You go watch it and tell me I’m not the best out there.”

Peters isn't alone in his sense of optimism. Gil Brandt of NFL.com wrote after Peters' combine effort that he was still hopeful the potential first-round pick would return after getting back into a football mindset:

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The performance might seem a bit puzzling; after all, he did have a plethora of pass breakups in the first eight games of the season. I suspect his showing had something to do with the fact that he hasn't played in a game since Nov. 1. I'm sure he's been training since then, but there's a difference between being in training shape and being in football shape.

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This also leads to Peters' off-field character, as he was kicked off Washington's roster in November, with Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reporting it was the result of multiple heated interactions with coaches. 

The star cornerback has since admitted to USA Today's Tom Pelissero that he deserved what Washington head coach Chris Petersen decided to do. He was given the opportunity to work out with the school's other draft prospects during the pro day. 

Just as you would hope for a star player given a second chance to show scouts what he can do, Peters nailed this audition, per Rob Rang of CBS Sports:

Keep in mind that Peters being the "star" on Thursday means he was more impressive than a potential top-10 pick in Danny Shelton and borderline first-round talent Shaq Thompson. He didn't do a lot in terms of the workout, just handling position drills, but it's still good to see that Peters has taken steps forward. 

Rang also provided a snapshot of one notable general manager in attendance watching Peters:

It's not a surprise to see Trent Baalke there. San Francisco lost two starting cornerbacks in free agency (Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver), has the 15th overall pick and will reportedly have an official meeting with Peters later this month, per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. 

In terms of what Peters looked like during drills, Jude tweeted out a brief video showing the cornerback in action:

That looks like a step forward from the combine for Peters. He looked more fluid and natural with his movements, able to cut and turn on a dime, while keeping his eyes forward the entire time. He's not a technically sound defender at all times, so vision has to be his best asset at the next level. 

Per Rang, Peters was part of a group of defensive backs going through drills with coaches from Pittsburgh, New York and New Orleans:

Just looking at draft position, as well as need, the New Orleans Saints (No. 13 and 31) and Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 22) could be in play for Peters, so having their coaches get a personal feel for what he looks like is certainly notable. 

There are always discussions around pro-day workouts about whether they are going to help or hurt a prospect. Marcus Mariota had shaky moments at his, which made some forget how well he looked at the combine, so it does provide a nice talking point in the weeks before a draft. 

However, for Peters, this is a case where the strong pro day really does matter. This performance feels closer to the player some, such as B/R's Matt Miller, have ranked as the top cornerback in the 2015 draft.

Peters may not be the first defensive back taken because teams have their own evaluations, and he's got to answer questions about his ability to work with a coaching staff. But Thursday was a nice reminder that with time to focus on football, he's capable of looking like a star.