Arizona Cardinals Should Target CB Marcus Peters in Draft

With a talented roster that was rounded out very well in free agency, the Arizona Cardinals will enter the 2015 NFL Draft without many obvious holes that need immediately filling.

Sure, the Cardinals should try to address their lack of pass rush, and finding a running back to compliment incumbent Andre Ellington is something else that they should get done. Inside linebacker and cornerback are other positions where the Cardinals can use some help as well.

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Like every NFL team, the Cardinals have some needs, but they are in a good enough position where they can just sit back and take the best player available in the draft. Ideally, this player would help fill a need, but more than anything the Cardinals want to find players who can help them reach their goal of being Super Bowl contenders.

Recent mock drafts have the Cardinals addressing the running back position in the first round. While Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley are intriguing running back prospects who could become stars in the NFL, this draft class is deep at the running back position.

Fellow running back prospects like David Johnson, Jay Ajayi, Duke Johnson, Jeremy Langford and T.J. Yeldon are also talented players who could make an impact for the Cardinals right away, and will be available in the middle rounds of the draft. The Cardinals should be able to find better value by passing on running back in the first round.

Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Jay Ajayi (27) runs for a 1 yard touchdown during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

A pass rusher like Eli Harold or Owamagbe Odighizuwa, an inside linebacker like Eric Kendricks or a defensive tackle like Eddie Goldman could be in play for the Cardinals with the 24^th pick. However, one prospect who could be available, and would be a great value at a position of need is cornerback Marcus Peters.

There is not a first round prospect in this draft that brings such a wide range of opinions than Peters. Some experts have him going off the board as a top ten pick, while some have him falling out of the first round completely. Where Peters goes is impossible to predict at this point, but him being available to the Cardinals at number 24 is certainly a possibility.

Nobody can deny the raw ability that Peters has at the cornerback position. At 6-foot, 197 pounds, Peters has ideal size for an NFL cornerback. He has great length that he uses very well in coverage, and his raw athleticism stands out on the field.

Peters does not show great straight line speed, but he is fast enough not to get beat deep consistently. While he does lack a little bit in pure speed, Peters is quick in short spaces, and has more than enough athleticism. He can out-jump receivers going up for the ball, and has incredible ball skills in the air.

Peters is a very physical player in coverage. He has shown the ability to play press coverage very well, with his length and aggressiveness consistently allowing him to shut down opposing receivers. Peters is also very physical against the run, as he is not afraid to come up and make a big hit on a running back.

There are very few questions about Peters on the field. He is a shut-down corner in the making with almost unlimited NFL upside. Unfortunately, there are off-the-field concerns.

Oct 18, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Marcus Peters (21) warming up before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Maturity appears to be a question mark when it comes to Peters. He was kicked off the team at Washington on November 6^th of last year after multiple clashes with the coaching staff. Peters never seemed to see eye-to-eye with Washington coach Chris Peterson and his staff, and that certainly leads to coach-ability concerns.

Despite kicking him off the team, Peterson has had some positive remarks concerning Peters, even allowing him to work out for scouts at Washington’s pro day. Peters also appeared to have a positive showing in the interview portion of the scouting combine.

Perhaps Peters has grown up, and has put his problems behind him, or maybe he has been well coached, and is just telling teams what they want to hear? It is hard to say at this point, but the fact that this is even a question will turn certain teams away.

If his character were not a concern, Peters would be a sure-fire top 15 pick in this draft. Since there are concerns, the Cardinals could have an opportunity to draft a talented player who they could not have gotten before.

Tyrann Mathieu entered the NFL with similar concerns, and he worked out very well for Arizona. Not saying that Mathieu’s transformation as a person means that Peters will do the same, but it is promising to see that the Cardinals have recently taken a chance on a player like this that has worked out before.

Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) reacts alongside safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) in the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With the loss of Antonio Cromartie this off season, the Cardinals have an open spot at the cornerback position opposite of Patrick Peterson. While Jerraud Powers and Justin Bethel are decent options for the Cardinals, neither have the pure talent and upside of Peters.

If he is available for the Cardinals with the 24^th overall pick, general manager Steve Keim should take on a chance on Peters. He appears willing to get over his troubled past, and the Cardinals have had success taking on players with character concerns.

While he is a bit risky, Peters can be a dynamic NFL player who could help take the Cardinals’ defense to a different level.

Next: Cardinals Should Target Free Agent RB Pierre Thomas

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