Since he was drafted in 2011, Patrick Peterson has become one of the bigger names in the NFL. His play at LSU had scouts talking and he was projected to be a top five pick. Then, he was selected by the Cardinals with the fifth overall pick. He’s been on some good teams in Arizona and some bad teams. As he gets set to begin his ninth season in the league, he will be suspended for the first six games of the year after testing positive for PED’s.
He’s developed into one of the best all-around cornerbacks in the NFL. So, what does he do best? It’s difficult for me to really say because he does so much that stands out. The first thing I can say about him is how cerebral he is as a football player. He’s very intelligent when it comes down to the x’s and o’s of the game. He’s a true shutdown corner that shuts down an entire side of the field which means quarterbacks are forced to throw the ball in the opposite direction of number 21 because of his ability to make a play on the football. He’s a physical corner that stays with his receiver step for step. I remember a year where he was all over Mike Evans. Also, that same year, he locked down DeAndre Hopkins who’s become an elite receiver. He always wants the top receiver on the opposition and those are the guys that you want to play with. He can play tight press coverage underneath or off the receiver in a zone scheme. Anything he’s asked to do; he does it hands on. He does a great job of getting his head on a swivel and finds the ball to grab the interception. He’s very dangerous in the open field with the ball in his hands as a returner. He’s returned kickoffs in the past which has helped him as a defender. He’s made life difficult for some of the best wide receivers in the game. The 2015 season stands out the most to me. He held Antonio Brown to two catches and A.J. Green to two catches. He played each of them physical.
Pat P is by far one of the best players in the NFL today. He’s never missed a game in his career starting in all 128 games for the Cardinals since being drafted in 2011. He’s also been named to the Pro Bowl in every season making him the 13th player in league history to accomplish that. Since he was drafted, he ranks third in the NFL with 23 interceptions. He will be eligible to return on October 20th.
