The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Skinny: The Bayou Bengal was already one of the top cover corners in the nation as a sophomore…when he was at his best, no one in college football was better. If he can be more consistent, Peterson has a very good chance to be a top-five selection in the 2011 NFL Draft should he forgo his final season in Baton Rouge. He checks in as our number five overall prospect for 2011 (top defensive back, second highest rated defender). At 6’1” and 211 pounds Peterson has the perfect build for an NFL corner which allows him to be effective against both the run and the pass. In pass coverage his size allows him to battle receivers at the line of scrimmage in bump and run coverage, in addition to being able to go toe to toe on jump balls down the field. He is fast, quick and fluid which allows him to flip his hips and run with receivers as effectively as any defensive back in the star-studded SEC. Peterson also owns the swagger necessary to be an elite cornerback at the next level. Every corner will get beat in coverage from time-to-time…it’s the one’s who can move on to the next play without giving the pervious one a second thought who have the mental makeup to thrive in the NFL. Peterson is supremely confident, which allows him to be aggressive and believe in his instincts. Against the Florida Gators last season we saw Peterson’s toughness as he delivered an impressive hit on Tim Tebow; he came on a corner blitz and later tackled the fabled Gator in the open field, something that didn’t happen very often. He hasn’t always been a factor against the run, but the ability is there. If Peterson takes his game to the next level, he could be the nation’s top defender in 2010. - Scouting Cornerbacks: Class of 2012

SCOUT'S TAKE

Pros: If an NFL general manager were allowed to go into a secret laboratory and create his perfect cornerback, that player would look like Patrick Peterson. Standing at 6’1” and 211 pounds, Peterson has the size to jam wide receivers effectively at the line of scrimmage and contest jump balls with even the biggest NFL pass catchers. Peterson’s frame is pure muscle and the length on his arms is outstanding for a cornerback. He also has very broad shoulders that allow him to carry his weight very naturally without impacting his speed or burst. In addition to his prototypical size, this Tiger also possesses the quick-twitch athleticism and raw speed to hang with even the fleetest of receivers. Peterson is blessed with the quickness, instincts and fluid hips to be a number one corner in either man-to-man coverage or a zone defense. When the ball is in the air Peterson is very good at making a quick decision; whether or not to go for a pick, tip, strip, bone-crunching hit or safe tackle. The Florida native is more than just impressive physical skills—he has the make-up required to be a top-notch NFL cornerback. He owns the confidence and attitude to relish an assignment on an island against any wide out. Peterson also has the ability to forget the last play on the rare occasions when he does get burned—a must for any corner. He has the ability to follow the opposition’s number one target anywhere on the field and hold them in check for 60 minutes. Yet another quality that will truly endear Peterson to NFL coaches is his physicality; he loves to hit and he loves to support in the run game. His large torso also makes him a very hard hitter, an effective, violent and technically-sound tackling machine that foes in the SEC consciously ran away from. Rarely do you see a cornerback dictate run plays. Although he hasn’t been able to get his hands on the ball often, the former high school running back flashed his playmaking skills by finding the end zone twice as a sophomore. The LSU product comes with an NFL pedigree—he’s related to cornerback Bryant McFadden, as well as wide receivers Santana and Sinorice Moss. Physically, Peterson is exactly what NFL scouts dream of in a cornerback.

Cons: Scouts will want to see Peterson live up to the expectations he created with his stellar sophomore campaign and take his game to the next level. However, as good as he was in 2009, the LSU cornerback did not always play to his talent level. If an NFL team is going to be willing to use a top-10 selection on Peterson they will want to see more consistency. It is up to the Bayou Bengal to improve his pre-snap diagnostic ability and route awareness; he will only get so far in the NFL relying solely on his athleticism, no matter how impressive it is.

Our View: The USA Today Defensive Player of the Year and Parade All-American coming out of high school arrived at Baton Rouge with high expectations. After getting his feet wet as a true freshman, the LSU product turned in a second team All-SEC season as a sophomore (52 tackles, 15 passed defended). If Peterson has the junior campaign he is capable of, the Florida native has a chance to be a very high selection. His combination of size and athleticism doesn’t come along very often—we have him rated higher than Florida’s Joe Haden, who was the seventh overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft (Cleveland Browns). Peterson is truly a rare physical specimen, and unless he plays like a total buster his junior season he is assured of going in 2011’s first round should he decide to declare. The question is: how high? He could go as high as the top five if he stays healthy and progresses in the mental aspects of the game. The best way to do that is to develop a reputation as a gym rat and film junkie. Nothing makes scouts happier and owners more eager to drop millions on a prospect than to hear that they live and breathe the game.

NEWS

11/17/10 - It has been such a given since even before the 2010 season started that junior cornerback Patrick Peterson would enter the NFL Draft a year early. "Patrick's going to be at our senior day, we believe," LSU senior middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard cracked. "Everybody who's anybody says he's going to be a top five pick." Peterson, a 6-foot-1, 222-pound junior from Pompano Beach, Fla., is already considered the best at his position in the country. "There is no better cornerback in college football, and to be honest, it's not even close," NFL Draft expert Mike Detillier said. "I see him as a top five or six pick at best and definitely a top 10 pick. He is the best cover corner out of the SEC since Champ Bailey." Peterson has three interceptions for the season and just six in his career, but that is because opposing quarterbacks usually do not throw to his side. "I don't think that's a secret," LSU tailback Stevan Ridley said. "Everybody knows he's going pro." – The New Star

11/26/10 - Possibly the worst-kept secret in college football, it is widely assumed that LSU junior cornerback Patrick Peterson will be making himself eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft. Even teammates have been outspoken about the likeliness of Peterson’s departure, who encouraged him to participate in Senior Day during last week’s contest against Ole Miss. He declined but the chances of Peterson returning to LSU appear to be slim and none. One of the five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Peterson has just four interceptions, a product of opposing quarterbacks steering clear of the lockdown corner. The same holds true on special teams, as opposing kickers also usually tend to avoid the special teams speed-demon. During the spring, Peterson was timed at 4.37 in the forty-yard dash. His combination of size (6’1, 222) and speed is rare. Add into the equation the physical brand of football he imposes on wide receivers and you have the making of a sure-fire top ten overall pick. Peterson is hands down the No. 1 ranked cornerback on the NFL Draft Bible big board, which includes draft eligible underclassmen.

08/08/11 - Patrick Peterson’s feet give him the speed to chase down receivers. His long arms allow him to bat away balls just before they find their target. His powerful, chiseled frame creates havoc at the line of scrimmage. NFL scouts clamor for Peterson, a potential first-round pick in next year’s draft. Coaches and teammates have a hard time explaining how a man so big — 6-foot-1, 222 pounds — can cover so much ground. At an LSU workout in the spring, Peterson covered the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, the best time of his college career. “With my physicality, my size and my speed, I believe I can keep up with any receiver out there,” Peterson said. – The Advocate of Baton Rouge

05/05/10 - Junior cornerback Patrick Peterson is physically in the same boat as Toliver. Peterson could be an early first-round pick if he continues stifling receivers, Detillier said. “In my opinion, Patrick Peterson is the best cover cornerback in college football,” Detillier said. “He’s the prototypical NFL cornerback. He matches up well, adjusts well to the ball in flight. If he has another season like he did last year, he’ll be a top-10 pick next year.” Peterson earned his reputation last season. The Pompano Beach, Fla., native racked up 47 tackles and snatched two interceptions. Teams rarely threw his way. “He’s long, and he’s quick,” said Todd Cooper, agricultural business junior. “I think he’ll have a great year. I do think he’ll leave if he does have a good year.” Larson disagreed. She said while Peterson is a good player, she doesn’t think he’ll bolt campus for the league after this season. “It’s unlikely he’ll have a good enough year to leave,” Larson said. “I think he’ll have a really good year though. He’ll prove himself next year.” – The Daily Reveille

05/02/10 - Cornerback Patrick Peterson. On any level of football, lockdown cornerbacks come at a premium. Not only is Peterson a lockdown corner, but he’s an exceptional tackler, a budding leader and the kind of player who rubs off on everybody else around him with his unyielding confidence. The LSU coaches love the potential of Morris Claiborne on the other side. But if Claiborne all of a sudden has to become the “man” at corner, that changes things for the Tigers in what should be the best secondary in the SEC. Ron Brooks would be one of the candidates to replace Peterson, or the Tigers could also move converted safety Jai Eugene back to cornerback. - ESPN