LSU CB Morris Claiborne better than Patrick Peterson?

by Dan Kadar on Jan 9, 2012 3:17 PM EST in 2012 NFL Draft

No one is questioning the draft position for LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. If he chooses to come out after this junior season, he will be a top 10 pick and could go as high as No. 3 to the Minnesota Vikings. If that happens, he'd be the second LSU cornerback to be drafted in the top five in consecutive years. The Arizona Cardinals used the fifth overall pick to take Patrick Peterson in last year's draft.

But how good is Claiborne compared to Peterson? One NFL director of college scouting thinks he's just as good or better.

"He doesn’t have the dynamic ability to change the game in the return game, but playing the actual cornerback position down after down, he’s every bit if not more talented than Patrick Peterson," the scouting director told HoumaToday.com.

He may be correct. Claiborne can cover a lot more ground in zone coverage than Peterson. As LSU players pointed out during media day for the BCS National Championship Game, Claiborne shuts down half the field. That has allowed fellow cornerback Tyrann Mathieu to freelance and make plays. That's also largely why Claiborne won't have to wait long to hear his name called on draft day.

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I wonder if Arizona considers making them teammates again.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Jan 9, 2012 3:25 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn't count on it

First of all, he’ll be long off the board when AZ picks at #13. Secondly, Greg Toler returning from injury, Petersen continue to blossom as a CB, Jefferson improving (good for an Undrafted FA), and potentially Marshall returning on a new deal, I just don’t see any need for an early round CB this year.

That being said, it wasn’t until very close to draft day last year that P-twice was even on the Cardinals radar, so you never know!

Faith Focus Finish

by b0rd3rline on Jan 9, 2012 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

+1

As a Panther fan, I think it’s pretty obvious the Panthers would select him in a heartbeat if he fell to them. The ONLY way ARI gets him is if they trade up.

by jkp1516 on Jan 9, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

The only way Carolina gets him is if they trade up

I think he won’t slip past us (tampa) at #5. If he’s there, I have a hard time seeing us take anyone else.

by aakks on Jan 10, 2012 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

Yep.

by jkp1516 on Jan 9, 2012 3:47 PM EST reply actions

as a college player, it is not too controversial to say Claiborne was only the 2nd best corner on his team each of the last two seasons...

….but I do see Claiborne being a better pro corner than either Peterson or Mathieu

by durst on Jan 9, 2012 4:34 PM EST reply actions

Fair Park

The only reason he didn’t gain any respect as a recruit is because Fair Park is a bad school without the means to film their players and get that out to college recruiters. He’s as good of a corner as PP only nobody knew about him till they found out how hard throwing away from PP7 was.

by Big McLargeHuge on Jan 9, 2012 5:49 PM EST via Android app reply actions