2011 Community Mock Draft: The Arizona Cardinals Select...

With the fifth pick of the 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals (represented by GRIZZ) select...

Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Doing a post after coldpizza is like taking the stage after Lynyrd Skynyrd plays "Freebird." But hey I'll give it a shot...

Seeing as the two "1^st round QBs" were taken already, the Arizona Cardinals went with the Best Player Available approach and take quite possibly the most athletic player in the entire draft.  I could have also gone with Von Miller here - and after I picked Peterson and started writing this, I wish I had - but with a potential secondary consisting of the aforementioned Peterson, Rodgers-Cromartie, Adrian Wilson, and Kerry Rhodes...this would be a hard player to pass up.

The Cardinals finished 23^rd in the league last year against the pass, giving up an average of 228.4 YPG throughout the season.  A standout player like "DUB-P" would greatly improve that category on defense. He's also an excellent special teams return man, though Arizona was actually ranked No. 1 in kick return yards, so that actually contradicts my "special teams quality" that he would add. But even so, Patrick Peterson would be welcome on most teams in the NFL.

For you NFL Combine buffs out there, here is Peterson's Combine report card:

40-yard dash:  4.34 (unofficially he is said to have run a  4.2)

Vertical jump: 38.0 inches

Long jump: 10'6"

Now on to the Von Miller debate (along with a few other potential picks):

Von Miller - To not pick Miller here was tough. The Cardinals run a defense similar to the Steelers and Miller could possibly flourish in their system as a James Harrison-type,. not to mention Ray Horton is their defensive coordinator...a former coordinator for the Steelers. Too bad he was a defensive backs coach! So, yes, he will take Peterson before Miller (at least in my world)

The "other" QB's in this years draft - Jake Locker, Ryan Mallet, and Christian Ponder are all not worth the 5^th overall pick in the draft. They could all be taken early in the 2^nd round where the Cardinals have the 6^th pick. They can wait. There are also Kevin Kolb,  Donovan McNabb and other current NFL QB rumors floating around the Cardinals.

I always like to look at what NFL players the "experts" compare to certain draft picks. According to CBS (and I concur):

Patrick Peterson, LSU (6-0, 219) 
Pro comparison: Charles Woodson
If Peterson is as dedicated as Woodson, he has the footwork to be just as versatile and the strength to be equally difficult to fend off outside. He can also be an ace in the return game, something the future Hall of Famer Woodson wasn't allowed to show fully because of injuries and further injury risk.

f I could be "guaranteed" a Charles Woodson type with the 5^th overall pick in the draft...sign me up! Yeah I know it's not a sure thing, but I'll take that risk with a player with the talent and potential like Patrick Peterson.

Oh and before I end, I must put the mandatory: LSU!! LSU!!