Patrick Peterson, an NFL free agent and former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back, is undoubtedly nearing the end of his career, but he has indicated a desire to continue playing football. The Steelers released Peterson three weeks ago, and he believes he still has enough juice in the tank to provide any team with a quality player who can improve their defense.
He was on the “NFL on Fox” podcast, where Peterson stated to the guests that his agency and he “have had conversations” with many NFL teams. He would go on to say that it is nothing serious for now, and the former eight-time Pro Bowler is optimistic about future progress “in the next couple of months.”
“From the cornerback position, I think a lot more signings will happen after the draft, once teams really understand what they have on their roster and what they may need to continue to improve their rosters,” Peterson said on Thursday’s show. “That’s when I think you’ll see more guys being picked up. I and my agency have spoken with a few teams. So far, nothing substantial has happened, although there have been chats. As I have stated, we’ll see what occurs over the following few months.
Peterson believes he has a “lot left in the tank” to play.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson (20) celebrates an interception during the first quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ NFL 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 23, 2023. The Steelers led 24-0 at halftime.
Peterson possesses many intangibles that make him a valuable addition to any NFL roster, including eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, three NFL All-Pro first-team selections, and multiple strong seasons. While some may consider him a relic of the past, Peterson stated that he still has a “lot left in the tank and can provide” other characteristics such as leadership and playmaking skills.
“I do feel like I still have a lot left in the tank and can provide, not only leadership, but playmaking ability to whatever team desires to have me on their roster,” Peterson told ESPN. “At this point and stage in my career, going through the free-agent process, I’m just taking it a day at a time.”
Peterson does not want to start at safety.
The 33-year-old spent last season with the Steelers, changing positions from cornerback to safety. While some may put those positions in the secondary, Peterson is clear that he does not want to play safety because it is a “different animal back there.”
“I don’t want to start at safety because that’s a different animal back there,” Peterson went on to say. “That’s a different perspective back there. If that is the case, I would need to be notified about the season in order to prepare my body and mind. It’s different being at safety than cornerback, with those open-field tackles. As corners, we are accustomed to knifing in and slashing men down. When you’re in the open field as a safety, especially if you’re in the middle of the field, that man is 24 yards to your right and left. There is no way to cut him off under any circumstances. You are the last line of defense. So, if that happens, I’ll need to be notified and maybe have one of these old-time safeties, like Ed Reed or [Troy] Polamalu, to teach me up.”
Peterson changed positions in the midst of last season with the Steelers.
While he prefers to play cornerback rather than safety, his expertise makes him versatile enough for other teams to use. When the Steelers’ coaching staff made the alteration earlier in the season, Peterson stated in late December that he “did feel comfortable” and it “felt great.”
“We’ll see where it goes from here, but I did feel comfortable,” Peterson said about playing safety. “It felt wonderful. “I made a couple of plays to help this defense succeed and eventually win the game.”
