PATRICK PETERSON
Position: CB
School: LSU
Scouts Inc. ranking: No. 3 overall

Bio: Consensus All-American who won the Bednarik Award (nation’s top defensive player) and Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back) in 2010. Was also named the SEC defensive player of the year and special teams player of the year. … Three-year starter at LSU who declared for the draft after his junior season. Finished his career with 135 tackles, 22 pass breakups, seven interceptions and four touchdowns (two on punt returns, one on an interception return and one on a return of a blocked field goal). … Averaged 29.1 yards per kickoff return and 16.1 yards per punt return.

Size: 6-foot-¼, 219 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.34
Arm length: 32 inches
Hand size: 9¼ inches
Vertical jump: 38 inches
225-pound bench press reps: 15
Broad jump: 10-6
20-yard shuttle: 4.07
60-yard shuttle: 11.01
Three-cone drill: 6.58

Broaddus Breakdown (viewed Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas A&M games): Has more of a strong safety build than that of a corner. … Will usually line up as the right corner but in certain schemes will flip to the left side. Runs easy, able to track receivers across the field and maintain position in the route. Will also see him cover from the slot. If he did allow separation it was more on the out routes than any other. … Has quick feet to drive on the ball. Able to keep leverage on the outside. … Wrap-up tackler. … Can play press coverage well. Physical with his hands on the press. Can jam and redirect routes. Will make receivers have to restart. … For the most part, did a nice job of finding the ball in the air but did see a play against Julio Jones of Alabama where he struggled on the fade. Did not get his head back around quick enough. Jones was able to take the ball at the highest point. … Jones also gave Peterson trouble on the slant. Had inside technique but had poor footwork, got turned and gave up inside. … Can be physical in the running game and also showed toughness on the goal line fitting against the run from the linebacker spot. Showed some nice reaction to Trent Richardson of Alabama on a swing pass to the flat. Able to make the tackle in the open field but did miss a tackle the same way against Mario Fannin of Auburn. ... Plays with balance and change of direction. Has catch-up speed. He is a hard man to run away from. Smooth pedal and explosion. Just so smooth in the way he plays. No wasted movement, effortless. ... Is a dynamic returner in the kicking game. Has feel, vision and speed to deliver huge plays. … No doubt that he is the best corner in the draft. When compared to Prince Amukamara of Nebraska, it is not even close. Peterson has the skill set to be an immediate impact player for his future team.