Patrick Peterson: San Francisco 49ers Hold Private Workout with Star CB

According to Foxsports.com, the San Francisco 49ers have held a private workout with LSU cornerback, Patrick Peterson.

Adam Caplan and Alex Marvez of Fox Sports report:

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"A source told FOXSports.com on Saturday that the 49ers, who are selecting seventh overall, conducted a private workout with Peterson, who is considered the draft's best defensive back. Peterson also visited the 49ers earlier this week."

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Peterson's name has surfaced in connection with the 49ers in several mock drafts and in several news reports and blogs over the past few months.

It has been widely accepted by most 49ers fans, NFL analysts and the media that Peterson would not slip past the Niners if he were still available when San Francisco goes on the clock with the seventh overall pick this Thursday.

The bigger question is whether Peterson will still be on the board for the 49ers to select by the time their pick comes?

CSNBayArea.com's Matt Maiocco has suggested that he believes Peterson will be available for the Niners to select, and that he is also No. 1 on the Niners draft board.

Regarding Peterson, Maiocco writes:

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"And the strange part is that Peterson might actually be there for the 49ers to select. The 49ers need playmakers in their secondary, and Peterson is that guy. That's why he must be No. 1 on the 49ers board. He can play cornerback, where there's a need. And, if he moves to safety in a couple years, as CSN Bay Area analyst Eric Davis suggests, Peterson will be valuable there, too."

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Would San Francisco trade up in the draft to select Peterson if necessary to secure his services though?

I don't believe so.

If Peterson is not available there are plenty of other options that should be available to fill other 49er needs: Von Miller (OLB), Prince Amukamara (CB), Marcell Darius (DL), Blaine Gabbert (QB), AJ Green (WR), Julio Jones (WR), Nick Fairley (DT) and perhaps Cam Newton (QB). 

Prince Amukamara may wind up being the better prospect at the corner back position anyway, and he would not require the 49ers to trade up in the draft to select.

I am not suggesting that all of these players would be considerations with the No. 7 pick, but the Niners would be better served trading further back in the draft and picking up extra picks than to trade up to grab Peterson and give up additional picks.

In Peterson's workout with the 49ers Florida Athletics quarterback Jeff Van Camp, and wide receiver Lester Jean participated in drills against Peterson.

You can follow Brandon on Twitter:  @BMcClintock_BR for more coverage of Bay Area sports. Brandon writes regularly about the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics and San Jose Sharks as well national topics assigned by Bleacher Report.