San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke was in attendance Thursday to watch three top prospects at Washington’s pro day in Seattle.
The group included former Washington cornerback Marcus Peters, nose guard Danny Shelton and outside linebacker Shaq Thompson.
[RELATED: NFL Draft Profile: Marcus Peters]
Peters is one of the most talented players at his position -- a spot where the 49ers could target early in the draft -- but he comes with character concerns.
Washington coach Chris Petersen dismissed the former McClymonds (Oakland) star from the team on Nov. 5 after an argument with assistant coaches in practice. Peters had clashed with the new coaching staff throughout the season.
During the pre-draft process, Peters set out to prove to NFL teams he was worth the risk of a high draft pick.
When asked what message he was delivering to NFL teams, Peters said at the combine, “That I just learn from my mistakes. I made some immature decisions at the University of Washington and it hurt me truly. So I’ve just got to learn from my mistakes and I grow from it.”
After the season, Peters said he met with Petersen, who allowed him to participate in Washington’s pro day.
“We sat down and we talked about everything that happened,” Peters said. “I sincerely apologized to him again for what I put him and the team through throughout this year. But it was a good conversation and he welcomed me into the pro day.”
Many scouts believe Peters is every bit as talented as Trae Waynes of Michigan State, who is expected to be the first cornerback selected in the draft. The 49ers are also reportedly scheduled to host Peters in one of their 30 private visits to Santa Clara.
[RELATED: Report: Peters to make pre-draft visit to 49ers]
