With the second pick in the 2011 BGN Draft, kingmcnabb5 selects...
Patrick Peterson: CB, LSU
As the Broncos front office in this year's edition of the BGN mock draft, there are two primary options I considered at the second overall pick, though a number of prospects intrigued me; after all, the 2011 class doesn't exactly have a surefire list of players worthy of the first few picks and there are a ton of possibilities in terms of who could be taken and in what order early in the opening round. Denver has quite a few needs after a disappointing '10 campaign that included a horrid defensive showing and poor coaching from second-year man Josh McDaniels, but I narrowed it down to a pair of top-ranked prospects--LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson and Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, ultimately choosing the former.I know for a fact that new head coach John Fox would love to bolster his 4-3 defensive line with a long-term option at the defensive end position, and a guy like Bowers has drawn comparisons to a great that Fox used to instruct, Pro-Bowl Bears pass rusher Julius Peppers. As much as scouts have pointed out that Bowers doesn't have very impressive game tape and only seemed to stand out as a senior at the collegiate level, I happen to admire the Clemson product as a soon-to-be rookie, and with proper coaching and a suitable system in the pros, I think it's fair to say he has the potential to be something astounding on the defensive side of the ball. Considering the Broncos were dead last in the NFL this past season in terms of sacks recorded, he would be a great addition, but Elvis Dumervil is set to return from injury, this year's draft is loaded with defensive line talent and should be stocked throughout all rounds, and I found that Peterson was simply too good to pass up at No. 2, when many teams pick the best player available.
More after the jump...
To say that Peterson is ahead of the other cornerbacks in his class would be an understatement, and certainly a big one. An intriguing physical specimen at 6-foot-1 and about 220 pounds, he has the size to play at both safety and CB, and has been compared to the likes of current NFL stars such as Charles Woodson. A heralded player from a young age, he flashed dominance as a press coverage specialist for LSU over the last few years and eventually forced opposing clubs to pass the ball away from his area on the field. He's unquestionably athletic and, believe it or not, has been said to run like Adrian Peterson in his role as a dangerous punt returner, while his ability to redirect opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage is something that will almost assuredly transition into immediate success at the professional level.No matter how you look at it, the guy is one impressive prospect and there's no reason for the Broncos not to take him at No. 2 when one of their primary holes on defense is the corner spot. Of course, they just re-signed Champ Bailey, but most can agree that Denver could definitely use a player for the future in the secondary, as Bailey is only built to perform at a high level for another couple of seasons. Besides, even if Bailey does outperform fans' expectations, the Broncos could boast one of the league's top cornerback tandems by adding Peterson to the mix. As stated before, Bowers is a guy I certainly considered, but when an up-and-coming superstar like Peterson is available, the decision to pick him shouldn't be too difficult.
Next on the clock will be jph89 with the Buffalo Bills.
Previous picks: #1 - Nick Fairley