3 NJ Football Stars Picked In 1st Round Of NFL Draft

The dreams of three former New Jersey football stars, Jabrill Peppers, David Njoku and Hasson Reddick, came true Thursday night when they were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The Browns' pick of Peppers at No. 25 was a bit of a surprise, with some saying the move will pay off, while others gave the pick an "F."

RELATED: Paramus Catholic's Jabrill Peppers Drafted No. 25 By Cleveland Browns

Peppers is one of the most versatile players to come out of Division I football in a while. He can play on offense and special teams, but it on the defensive side of the ball where he truly shines. He has the strength and speed to play safety, which is where the Browns will most likely use him, linebacker or cornerback.

Peppers caught a bit of controversy this week after it was revealed he tested positive for a diluted sample at the NFL combine. He has never failed a drug test, according to Creative Artists Agency, which represents him. He won four state group championships in high school, two each for Don Bosco Prep and Paramus Catholic, his alma mater.

Reddick, a four-year defensive end from Temple University, was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 13th pick. He is from Camden and played running back and safety for coach Ralph Shalvo at Haddon Heights High School.

In 47 collegiate games he had 18 sacks.

Sports Illustrated said Reddick is a "good fit" for the Cardinals.

"We're excited to have you join us. You've got a great group of defensive players. This is gonna be explosive," said Cardinals President Michael Bidwell in a phone call to Reddick right before the pick was announced. "We're excited to have you with us."

North Jersey could be represented on both sides of the ball at Browns' games this year with Cleveland picking Njoku at No. 29. Sports Illustrated said the third-year tight end for the Miami Hurricanes is "very raw, but he could be a dominant pass-catching tight end down the road."

“He is an unbelievable learner at seeing something," Todd Hartley, the Hurricanes' special teams coordinator, told USA Today. "He’s so visual that he didn’t have to take notes. He saw it and went out to the field and applied it and did it.”

Njoku caught 43 passes for nearly 700 yards and eight touchdowns. He is the older brother of Evidence Njoku, a star wide receiver at Wayne Hills who has committed to attending Miami. He played high school football at Cedar Grove.

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Photos, from left: Jabrill Peppers, David Njoku and Hasson Reddick — By Joe Robbins and Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Sports/Getty Images