Patrick Peterson is one of the all-time great cornerbacks in NFL history. He was a star for 13 years before hanging it up after the 2023 season, and will likely be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He recently appeared on “Up & Adams” and listed his favorite receivers to go against in his career.
Former CB Patrick Peterson Lists His Favorite WR Matchups
Peterson was the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and spent the first 10 years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. He was an impact player immediately, making the Pro Bowl and being named first-team All-Pro as a rookie. That year, Peterson posted 64 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and two interceptions.
He made the Pro Bowl each of his first eight years and was a first-team All-Pro two other times. While 2012 was Peterson’s best season, he didn’t make any All-Pro teams after totaling 55 tackles, 16 PBUs, and seven interceptions.
The Cardinals let Peterson test free agency in 2021, and he signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. In that season, he posted 45 tackles, five PBUs, and a pick-six. The Vikings re-signed the veteran for 2022, and Peterson finished his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023.
The passing game came to the forefront of the NFL during Peterson’s 13-year career, and he covered some of the game’s all-time best receivers. He recently went on “Up & Adams” and broke down the list of his favorites.
Kay Adams asked Peterson, “Who’s your favorite receiver to match up with?”
Peterson replied, “I’ll go with, Calvin Johnson. Julio Jones, just with the history that we had. And my last one, just because I had the opportunity to go up against him just once. I wish I had more opportunities, Antonio Brown, man. He was just so, so different. He played above his shoulders. I don’t know what he was listed at as his height, but he played much bigger than that.”
Patrick Peterson’s favorite WRs to matchup against 👀 pic.twitter.com/IGM9GZJUKy
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 29, 2025
Adams asked why Peterson said Johnson first, and he responded, “Just because I knew it was going to be three games in one. I’ll never forget my first time going up against him. Matthew Stafford targeted Calvin Johnson 22 times. At the time, that’s like five games in one. I never forget how tired I was after the game going up against Calvin Johnson.”
READ MORE: Former Cardinals Star Patrick Peterson Gets Brutally Honest About His Relationship With Kyler Murray
Johnson is already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is arguably the best wide receiver of all time. “Megatron” played for nine years, all with the Detroit Lions, and was an absolute force. From 2011 to 2013, Johnson was named to the first-team All-Pro list, and he rewrote the record books in 2012.
He led the league in receptions (122) and yards (1,964) while adding only five touchdowns. The receiving yardage number is the single-season record, and Johnson deserves all his flowers after playing on some truly awful Detroit teams.
Jones and Peterson were drafted in the same year after playing against each other in the SEC, so it’s fitting that the cornerback recognized his long-time rival. Jones also had multiple first-team All-Pro seasons, including 2015 when he led the league with 136 catches and 1,871 yards.
Brown had some troubling episodes later in his career, but at his height, he was as dangerous as any other receiver in the NFL. Brown led the league in receptions two straight years (2014 and 2015) and led the league in receiving yards in 2014 and 2017.
It’s a shame we didn’t see Peterson matchup with Brown more often, but the cornerback’s list is a who’s who of modern NFL greatness.