The Steelers' Unexpected Release Of Arthur Maulet May Shift Their Plans For Patrick Peterson In 2023

With Arthur Maulet no longer on the team, the Pittsburgh Steelers' need for depth at slot cornerback becomes that much more of an issue. In 2022, the defense relied almost exclusively on Maulet as well as the recently departed, Cam Sutton, to fill the role. Now, with both players gone, the Steelers may call upon a defensive back who up until this point in his career has spent most of his snaps outside the numbers, future Hall of Famer, Patrick Peterson.

While Peterson is a few years removed from his All-Pro days, he is still a highly effective player who is extremely intelligent. He is coming off a 2022 season with the Minnesota Vikings where he played in all 17 games and recorded five interceptions. The Steelers are confident he still has plenty of quality football left in him. Furthermore, the team is also confident in his ability to play multiple positions, as Mike Tomlin pointed out during the NFL 2023 Annual League Meetings.  

"He's versatile. He is, not only in terms of his talents, but his intellect, and we're not going to be bashful about moving him around. He and I have already had that discussion. I think he is really excited about the prospect of that," said Tomlin in regard to Peterson joining the Steelers in 2023. 

Replacing Sutton And Maulet May Be A Joint Effort For The Steelers In 2023

Sutton was far from a household name at defensive back, but he was perhaps the best corner the Steelers have had over the past few seasons. He was athletic enough to defend the team's number-one receiver on the outside, and intelligent enough to cover smaller receivers in the slot. Combine his high level of play with his strong leadership ability, and the Steelers may find themselves regretting the decision of letting him walk. 

However, the organization should feel confident in the team's secondary in 2023 and beyond. Not only did Omar Khan replace Sutton with Peterson, a worthy replacement, but he was also able to add Joey Porter Jr. in the 2023 NFL Draft who has the necessary talent to be a shut-down corner. 

The team also recently agreed to terms with veteran slot cornerback, Chandon Sullivan, who will undoubtedly have an increased role with the release of Maulet. While the team may struggle initially with deciphering who exactly will be responsible for the void left behind by both Sutton and Maulet, the team has enough depth in the defensive back room to be effective next season. 

Is Peterson Playing Slot Cornerback A Good Idea? 

The Steelers will most likely have Peterson and Porter Jr. as their starting cornerbacks in their base 3-4 defense next year. However, with the evolution of modern NFL offenses, teams are operating out of 11 and 10 personnel more than ever. The need for defenses to have multiple starting-quality defensive backs has never been higher, especially for the Steelers as they play perhaps the best wide receiver group in all of football twice a year in the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Therefore, what exactly will the Steelers' plan be in nickel and dime defensive formations? As of now, the Steelers may plan to have Porter Jr. and Levi Wallace play outside the numbers, and have Peterson play in the slot. Sullivan will certainly play a role in these types of situations as well, but he may end up being most effective on first and second down, similar to Maulet. 

Having Peterson shift inside not only allows him to take over the "Sutton role," but it also allows the Steelers to have their best three cornerbacks on the field together. While the idea of Peterson assuming a similar role to that of Sutton sounds good in theory, it is yet to be seen how effective Peterson can be playing inside. 

The team will obviously have other options in this role, such as Damontae Kazee and Tre Norwood. With training camp and the preseason still to be played, there is no reason for the team to have all the answers at this point. Rather, it will not be until Week 1 of the regular season that fans truly find out what the plan is in the secondary. With that being said, the assurance of having a veteran in Peterson who is willing to do whatever it takes to win is tremendous. He will play a huge part in the team's success in 2023. 

Thoughts, Steeler Nation?

How do you feel about the release of Maulet? Do you like the idea of Peterson playing in the slot? Do you think the Steelers will continue to add to the secondary? Let us know in the comments! 

#SteelerNation