Patrick Peterson’s Future Is Back to ‘Up in the Air’
A couple of items occurred on Friday, leaving Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson’s future up in the air — even after the LSU alumnus has affirmed his desire more than a few times this offseason to return with the club.
Foremost, the Vikings signed Chandon Sullivan from the Green Bay Packers, a much-needed addition to the cornerback room as Minnesota’s depth was skimpy before the transaction. Sullivan, 25, figures to play the slot-cornerback role in 2022 a la Mackensie Alexander from 2021.
Of course, the addition of Sullivan doesn’t disqualify Peterson from returning to the Vikings, but it does lessen the likelihood.
And it’s mainly a money thing. The Vikings had around $16 million in salary cap space when they inked Sullivan, and the organization could stand to spend some cash on interior offensive line improvements. In that regard — because the Vikings still need money to sign a draft class — the dollars are dwindling to sign premium free agents like Peterson.
Peterson was the one stable Vikings cornerback throughout 2021, although he missed about a month due to injury. Cameron Dantzler was banned from playing by the old coach to start the season, Bashaud Breeland was terrible out of the gate, Mackensie Alexander was terrible down the stretch, Mike Hughes was traded, Jeff Gladney was released before the season began, and there was Peterson — the one CB without poor performance or shenanigans.
In addition to the notion of Sullivan’s arrival reducing the probability of Peterson re-signing, Peterson may have already decided on a “new team” that is not yet announced.
It depends on the beholder’s interpretation of this quote:
“Reaches a deal with a new team” is either blanket verbiage, encapsulating new in the sense of after-free-agency — or it could mean new as in not the Vikings. It’s really a semantics game left up to the listener to decide, or in this case, you.
Retaining Peterson seems ideal as the roster would be deeper. Yet, like all conversations this time of year, it’s all about value, especially the new general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who talks about value every time he’s in front of a microphone. Peterson’s price tag may be too high for a new executive scouring the league for value-based acquisitions.
And if Peterson does not sign back with Minnesota, you can probably set your clock to the Vikings drafting a cornerback in the 1st Round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Maybe they’ll draft a corner from Peterson’s alma mater, LSU — Derek Stingley Jr.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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