The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a lot of injuries to the defense during the 2023 season and had to get very creative in how they used the players that were left. One of the players that got shifted around, out of his comfort zone, was eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson. Now, per ESPN analyst and NFL insider Adam Schefter, they are moving on from the 33-year-old.
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
Steelers CB Patrick Peterson
Peterson, who just wrapped up his 13th season in the NFL, came to the Steelers from the Minnesota Vikings where he spent two seasons. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round with the fifth overall pick in 2011.
Steelers are releasing eight-time Pro-Bowl CB Patrick Peterson, per sources. pic.twitter.com/z1BYPzaUXy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2024
During his career, he has played in 201 games, starting 200. He is credited with 36 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries, four sacks, and 652 total tackles with 571 of them solo. He is a three-time First Team All-Pro and an eight-time Pro Bowler. No one should rule out a reunion in Pittsburgh for much less of a cap hit, but it appears as the likely scenario is Peterson finding a different home, or maybe even retiring, in 2024.
The decision to release the veteran certainly puts a huge hole in the secondary for Pittsburgh. Outside of Joey Porter Jr., Darius Rush and Cory Trice Jr., there are no other cornerbacks under contract for 2024 with the expected release of Peterson. General Manager Omar Khan is going to have to get extremely creative to revamp the room.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A6118-544x306.jpg "Steelers Joey Porter Jr.")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (#24) stands on the field at St. Vincent College during 2023 training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Must Be Cooking Something Up Good Behind The Scenes
Team insider for The Athletic, Mark Kaboly, took to X after Schefter reported the news and said what every fan out there is thinking. There must be some serious planning going on behind the scenes based on releases this offseason, even before the new league year has begun.
Steelers now have released 3 starters — Cole, Peterson, Harvin — without having a replacement currently on the roster. This Omar Khan plan must be a doozy.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) March 8, 2024
There is a very deep secondary free agent class as well as in the draft. There are going to be several options to upgrade the position and make it a bit younger. The issue becomes a lack of mentorship for the young guys like Porter and Trice. Rush is also only just 24 years old. The draft will certainly be an area the Steelers use to address cornerback, but free agency comes first, and fans can expect movement there as well.
Pittsburgh also opens up some cap space with the release of Peterson. It saves the team nearly $7 million and comes with a dead cap of of just under $3 million. Cornerback may have just become the Steelers' top need, even over the center position that will need to be upgraded. These moves aren't for nothing, though. Khan has something going on and it wouldn't be shocking if he empties the bank once free agency begins.
Do you think it was smart for the Steelers to release Peterson? Let us know in the comments below!
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