NFL Draft Rumors: Patrick Peterson Shouldn't Be on the St. Louis Rams Radar

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Top Athlete Patrick Peterson Won't Fall Out Of Top 10

ESPN.com's Mike Sando wrote today about the St. Louis Rams prospects of drafting LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.

The St. Louis Rams can probably forget about landing the highest-rated cornerback in the 2011 NFL draft.

They're drafting too late for a realistic shot at LSU's Patrick Peterson, who apparently knows this, and the position isn't one of great need for the Rams, anyway.

Sando read a bit into the words of head coach Steve Spagunolo, who basically said the Rams wouldn't pass on a player like Peterson. But there's no chance he's around when they pick 14th. There are too many teams out there in desperate need to improve their pass defense. (Adding a potentially great punt returner as well is an added bonus). There's no way that the Browns, Cowboys, Texans, Vikings, and Lions pass on Peterson.....which is assuming he doesn't go third to the Bills or sixth to the 49ers which he might.

And for a young team that still has several spots to fill, I can't see them making a deal that would hamper them down the road just to move up, no matter how great Peterson is.

Furthermore, the Rams defense made some nice strides in 2010, and Spagnuolo's scheme in New York didn't rely on that type of remarkable shutdown cornerback. He can piece together a solid if not spectacular unit over the next few years without a player like Peterson.

And since there are some capable talents available to them later in the draft (Ras-I Dowling from Virginia, or Chimdi Chekwa from Ohio State) they can nab depth there.

For more on the NFL Draft, see 50 NFL Draft Facts That May Surprise You

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