The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Normally [nawr-muh-lee]

1.     in a normal or regular way

2.     according to rule, general custom, etc; as a rule; ordinarily; usually.

“Not normally” was the response from one former NFL executive who asked to be anonymous in regards to NFL teams’ propensity to select a defensive back as the top pick of the NFL Draft. So, according to that rule, one of the top players in this upcoming draft may not get selected number one simply because he doesn’t play a position NFL execs deem worthy enough to be a number one pick overall. The player who is causing many to rethink this line of thinking is 2010 Jim Thorpe Award winner (the award is given to the nation’s top defensive back) Patrick Peterson from LSU. For some reason NFL higher-ups disregard the merits and ability of players due to the position they play, and in doing so may decrease their ability to improve in the process.

The highest drafted defensive backs were selected third overall (twice), and defensive backs have been chosen seven times inside the top five in the history of the modern NFL Draft. Of the seven drafted only 1991’s third overall pick, Bruce Pickens, can be labeled a bust. The other six—Deion Sanders, Terrell Buckley, Shawn Springs, Charles Woodson, Quentin Jammer and Terrance Newman—have lived up to the expectations of being selected inside the top five. One will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this August (Deion Sanders), while another just hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in February after winning Super Bowl XLV (Charles Woodson) and will no doubt be on his way to Canton one day to see his own bust in the great Hall. So, six out of those seven defensive backs have been successes. Those are pretty good numbers. Truth be told, I could rest my case for why Patrick Peterson should be the number one pick off that statistic alone.

“Failure is not an option,” says retired four-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion defensive back Sam Madison. He’s referring to Peterson’s passion to be the best, adding that the former Tiger “has the size, speed and smarts to protect himself from danger” and Madison should know. He saw Peterson up close, training him at TEST Football Academy where he has been on staff the last two years. The ‘avoiding danger’ Madison talks about is Peterson’s exceptional speed, “One thing that shocked me was his recovery on deep balls and watching him open his hips and just close on receivers.”

Something that people won’t be able to see first hand is Peterson’s mental game. “Before drills he goes into like a yoga ritual,” Founder/CEO of TEST Football Academy Brian Martin says, “it’s a zone you can’t describe.” Peterson is “always the leader of the pack,” Martin says. Madison agrees, bringing up the fact that even though Peterson came in five days later due to his Cotton Bowl game, “He leaped into the front. He’s a leader. He wants to be the leader who does it the correct way.”

Why Peterson? Why now? Simple: the NFL is throwing the ball more and a player who some consider the best defensive back prospect in the last 20 years must be considered for the top overall pick. In fact, three of the four highest scoring totals in NFL history over the last two decades have come in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Last year marked the first time in NFL history that five quarterbacks reached 30 or more touchdowns, and total passing yards also reached a league high (113,450).

The chart below shows the increase of passing attempts and yards since 1990. If anyone plans on stopping opposing teams through the air, Patrick Peterson should be the weapon of choice to defend against the ever-increasing aerial assaults that has taken place over the last 21 years in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers are in the NFC South and face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman twice a season. Could this decision be made any easier for the Panthers? They must consider selecting the perfect weapon to battle the NFL’s new offensive style.

Receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones appear near the top of most 2011 draft boards. Rising up draft boards across the NFL, Jones displayed freakish ability at the NFL Scouting Combine. He blazed a 4.34 forty at 6’3” and 220 pounds, while Green didn’t disappoint with his 4.48 forty at 6’3” and 211 pounds. There are two of them, but only one Patrick Peterson to defend them. Let’s stop beating around the bush: there are a lot more receivers at 6’3” with the ability of those two guys at the next level than there are Patrick Petersons to defend them. Top receivers are more abundant than top shutdown corners and defensive ends. It’s not just the receivers that are increasing the numbers as NFL teams load backfields with Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles types at running back, guys who are quick footed and deadly after the catch. The speed of Peterson would help limit the options of offensive coordinators moving forward.

It seems in other walks of life that the rarest of anything is usually the most sought after. So when I hear there are three or four defensive linemen worthy of the number one spot, I want to yell like Mugatu, “They're the same face! Doesn’t anyone notice this? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!” to quote Will Ferrell’s character in Zoolander. Nick Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers or Marcell Dareus; the choice between those three defensive linemen only underscores how rare a talent Patrick Peterson is. And there’s only one of him.

Peterson has the leadership qualities of Winston Churchill accompianed by the speed, handling and precision of a Bughatti Veyron, the fastest road-legal car in the world—top speed, 431.07 km/h (267.85 mph). The funny thing is, if you take the 431km and move that decimal over two spots to the left, you have Peterson’s forty time at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.31). With that top-end speed, it’s no wonder that Peterson also brings elite return man status to the table as well.

The Panthers’ decision makers should thank the football gods for making this decision-making process so absurdly simple—take Peterson with that top pick!

Photo Courtesy of Mark Scott

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Follow Bo Marchionte on Twitter: @BoMarchionte