The Browns hope to use Jabrill Peppers every which way they can this fall, but he'll have to earn his keep first.
Peppers, the former Michigan star and first-round NFL Draft pick, has spent the first week of training camp mostly working with Cleveland's second- and third-team defense. He shrugged off that dynamic when asked about it Wednesday before practice.
"I've worked for everything in my life," Peppers said. "Nothing has been handed to me."
A three-way player for the Wolverines, Peppers will compete to be the team's starter at safety, kick returner, punt returner and could even play some offense for head coach Hue Jackson.
"He's very smart, first off. He has been a sensational defensive addition for us. Very talented back there. Still growing," Jackson said. "There are some things that he still has to learn, but we all know that he has had some skill on the offensive side of the ball. I don't see any reason why we would stop him from doing something that he may be very good at."
And like his fellow rookies — including defensive end and No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett — he'll have to prove his worth before rising up the depth chart.
"I didn't really come in with expectations. You get what you put out. The thing I'm going to do is continue to work hard and continue to show them what I can do," Peppers said. "The tape doesn't lie. If you put good things on tape, good things are going to happen to you. So that is what my mindset is going to be."
Peppers was a star at Michigan, earning the Paul Hornung Award, which is given to college football's most versatile player. Asked how he'll handle learning multiple roles, Peppers said he's embraced the opportunity to contribute in more ways than one.
"I take everything as a challenge. I'm going to show that not only am I physical enough or fit enough to handle it, but also I have the wits too," he said.
"I try to just be as well rounded, know as much as I possibly can to be used in any kind of way. That's my goal for the season."
