Arizona Cardinals: Is Patrick Peterson Overrated?

Jun. 11, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during mini camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Coming out of college, Patrick Peterson was regarded as the best defensive back in the 2011 NFL Draft and the country. While in high school, he not only played corner, but he also played running back as well and recorded a total of 946 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior and senior.

While at Blanche Ely Mighty High School, Peterson participated in the ’08 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, he was selected to numerous All-American teams, and was named by USA Today as Defensive Player of the Year. He was ranked fifth by Rivals.com and eighth by ESPN as the Nations best overall player.

At the end of his college career, Peterson started all 37 games with 126 tackles, seven interceptions, and one touchdown. He was an unanimous first-team All-American and a first-team All-SEC selection.

In his first game as a Cardinal, Peterson recorded an 89 yard punt return in the fourth quarter for a touchdown that sealed a win over the Carolina Panthers. His third punt return for a touchdown was against the St. Louis Rams in overtime, dodging several Rams players to win the game with a 99 yard return.

Peterson is the only player in NFL history to return four punts at least 80 yards for a touchdown and was the only rookie to be selected to the ’11 first team All-Pro. He has a total of 119 tackles, one sack, and nine interceptions.

Peterson is great in man coverage but needs to become more rounded in zone coverage and more solid at tackling in order to emerge as an elite corner that he was projected as coming out of college. As of right now I say yes, Peterson is overrated at this point in time due to the hype that he gets, but with that being said, with time, I believe he will emerge as the star that he is made out to be and will become a shutdown corner.