Patrick Peterson says he won't pout if he drops to No. 7 and gets taken by the 49ers. No, the LSU cornerback insisted, it would be an honor just to be drafted. He'll make the most of any situation. But Peterson also has a chip on his shoulder. He said under that scenario that he would pay careful attention to which teams passed him over and make sure they regretted that decision for the rest of his career. "Oh yeah, I'll remember them," he said. "Without a doubt."
Peterson is in town today to meet with the 49ers coaches, including Vic Fangio, who is looking for a dynamic playmaker for his defense. Fangio, of course, got his coaching education alongside buddy Dom Capers, Green Bays' defensive coordinator, and Fangio wants a defense that is just as aggressive and dynamic as the Packers'.
In that case, Peterson is saying all the right things. He told me on Tuesday that he wants to have a Charles Woodson-like impact at the next level. "He can play all around the around the field," Peterson said. "He can play a number of positions on defense. I definitely want to move around - cornerback, rover, safety. I want to show my coaches, whoever it going to be taking me, that I have the ability to play a number of roles defensively."
Peterson is big for a cornerback, 219 pounds, but also is one of the fastest players in the draft. He ran his 40-yard dash in February in 4.34 seconds. Some observers, such as the NFL Network's Mike Mayock, have suggested that his career follows a similar path to Ronnie Lott's - first as a cornerback and then as a safety.
If Peterson indeed goes to the 49ers - and a plurality of mock drafts see that scenario -- he might want to set aside some of his signing bonus. Peterson, who wore No. 7 at LSU, said he has his sights set on three numbers at the NFL level - Nos. 21, 23, and 24. The first, of course, is currently occupied by Frank Gore and is presumably off limits. Taylor Mays and Anthony Dixon have the second two, and they may be available at a price. "We'll figure something out," Peterson said.
-- Matt Barrows
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.