As many expected, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is entering the 2011 NFL Draft. Peterson is holding an 11 a.m. news conference to announce his decision.
2011 NFL Draft: Patrick Peterson to go pro today
Peterson is unquestionably a top-10 pick in this year's draft. He has rare size at 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds while maintaining top speed and fluidity to cover No. 1 receivers. There were times he struggled this season – namely against Alabama's Julio Jones and Texas A&M's Jeff Fuller – but Peterson has displayed his skills plenty.
Peterson won the Thorpe and Bednarik awards as a junior. He finished 2010 with 42 tackles, four interceptions and six pass breakups. He also blocked a kick.
Whatever team drafts Peterson will also get a star kick and punt returner. Peterson ran two punts back for touchdowns and averaged 16.1 yards per return. He averaged 29.1 yards per kick return as a junior.
Peterson enters the draft as the top cornerback but may not be the best-available cornerback this offseason. That would be Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders. Asomugha became a free agent after not meeting incentives in his contract. Now, he has Raiders fans begging for his return.
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