TEMPLE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals have selected LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson with the fifth pick in the NFL draft, bypassing the chance to take a quarterback with Missouri's Blaine Gabbert still available.
Peterson won the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and the Bednarik Award as the top defender in college football. The 6-foot-1, 222-pound junior routinely covered opponents' top receivers one-on-one. He had four interceptions and returned two punts for touchdowns last season.
The Cardinals need a quarterback; the days of their smooth-operating offense since Kurt Warner's retirement have been ugly indeed. But they probably would prefer a veteran quarterback and have many needs elsewhere.