Philadelphia Eagles trade deadline primer: Secondary edition
By Pete Long
Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals)
Patrick Peterson burst onto the scene as an All-Pro rookie in 2011. He’s been selected to the pro bowl each of his seven seasons in the league and is an all-around stud. He can man up any receiver and own them, he’s capable of making tackles one-on-one and he is always a threat for an interception in the back of the quarterback’s mind.
The hardest pill to swallow for Philly fans is that his seven Pro Bowl seasons and three All-Pro selections should’ve taken place in the city of brotherly love. Yes, that’s right, he should’ve been an Eagle.
Had the lockout of 2011 never happened, Peterson’s fifth overall pick would have been part of a trade package for quarterback Kevin Kolb and he would have been drafted by the Birds. Per Dan Parr of NFL.com:
"“The original trade was the fifth pick of the draft, which we were targeting Patrick Peterson for, and the second-round pick for next year,” Banner said last week on ESPN’s NFL Insiders. “Because there was a lockout, we weren’t allowed to make trades leading into the draft, or else Patrick Peterson would’ve been a Philadelphia Eagle.”"
Instead, the Birds ended up with a head case in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a draft pick which they traded away to acquire Vinny Curry and Brandon Boykin.
The thought of bringing Peterson “home” to end his career in Philly may leave Birds fans mouths watering. The train wreck that is the Arizona Cardinals season was derailed from the start, and the Birds may be able to swoop in a steal a top-tier cornerback as the Cards start their rebuild.
Peterson is absolutely worth giving up a few drafts picks and possibly more. He’s 28 years old and it’ll be a while before the low fuel light flashes on his dashboard. Whether the Birds move Mills to the slot, try him out at safety or simply let him play a support role, Peterson is an extreme upgrade that could instantly change opponents game plans when preparing to play the Birds.