The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to make a tough name with veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson this offseason. He understands its business and cap implications, and Peterson wishes to return. But that’s not thoroughly up to him, and what he desires to do would possibly now not align with the Steelers. But Peterson did say that he was willing to do the whole lot besides take a seat on the bench in a glorified coaching role. If the crew has a position anticipated for him, he needs it.
“You know I desire to (keep playing). The question is if the Steelers prefer me to finish with them,” Peterson stated on the All Things Covered Podcast. “Me and Coach Tomlin had a terrific conversation after the season. Obviously, I recognize that you have to go through your evaluations in the draft and free enterprise and things like that, but for me, what I was in a position to do in Year thirteen taking part in special positions, coming into a new environment. I felt my season was very successful playing ninety seven percent of my snaps…As you noticed this year, I’m open to enjoying wherever, whenever. Wherever I can be to help the team, I’m all for it. Except for the bench.”
That is the key phrase there. Peterson is not in opposition to returning it looks like, even a decreased role. But he needs to play somewhere. Peterson started out to enhance down the stretch as he moved around the defensive formation, but with a cap hit of almost $10 million this upcoming season, it looks not likely he will play on that number. In other words, Peterson will need to be extended to take a pay reduce or could be released.
Peterson is the solely veteran cornerback beneath contract heading into the 2024 season. Levi Wallace, James Pierre, and Chandon Sullivan are all free agents. Meanwhile, Cory Trice, Darius Rush, and Joey Porter Jr. create plenty of younger depth, however they will need some veterans to information them. The team will probably add in the NFL Draft given how deep this cornerback classification is, too, but their selection on Peterson will figure out just how urgent their wishes are at cornerback in free organization and the NFL Draft.
Peterson is due a $3 million roster bonus in March and is set to earn $3.85 million in 2024 salary, making his cap hit next season $9.775 million. Porter is now without a doubt the team’s No. 1 backyard cornerback, and while Peterson could man the second spot, or play in the slot or at safety, these positions don’t usually come with the identical price tag as pinnacle guys on the outside.
