Aug 27, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson (7) walks on field before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports.
Former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson insisted for months he wanted to return with Kevin O’Connell’s team in 2023, but a deal never came together.
Instead, the 32-year-old joined forces with Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh and will roll with the Steelers for two years, presumably to wrap up a Hall of Famer career.
Peterson mentioned the Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles as possible 2023 landing spots but will become a Steeler, the Bengals natural rival, and play in the AFC for the first time in his life.
And while Peterson will likely thrive inside Tomlin’s system, it just looks weird. Peterson outside of an Arizona Cardinals or Vikings uniform or hat is new and strange. But such is life.
The Steelers Twitter account posted photos of Peterson in the new threads:
The defender joined the Vikings during the 2021 free-agency period and performed commendably in 2021 and 2022 on team-friendly deals. Peterson produced a remarkable 2022 regular season, ranking as the league’s 12th-best cornerback, according to PFF. He turned back the clock a half-decade, grading an outstanding 77.8. Peterson impacted a Vikings defense that otherwise struggled and needed all the silver linings it could find.
Minnesota has Kalon Barnes, Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, Tay Gowan, and newcomer Byron Murphy under contract at cornerback, so life without Peterson begins now. The Vikings could also add another free-agent cornerback before too long, as the CB market hasn’t been quite as financially robust as once thought. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could also re-sign Duke Shelley for 2023, a standout performer who arguably played better than Peterson in 2022.
Peterson said Monday about his impending relationship with the Steelers, “It was kind of out of left field. My agent was doing his job. He was calling around to see what teams wanted to have me in their locker room.”
“The proof is in the pudding. I know I can still ball,” Peterson also opined about entering his age-33 season.
Peterson joins a Steelers CB room with Levi Wallace, Arthur Maulet, Ahkello Witherspoon, Chris Wilcox, Madre Harper, and Duke Dawson. A relatively anonymous group, all things considered, Peterson should expect to start this September, with perhaps Pittsburgh even drafting a CB of the future.
The LSU alumnus recorded 66 tackles, 15 passes defended, 5 interceptions, and 3 tackles for loss in his final season as a Viking. The 5 picks were the most by Peterson in a single season since 2012.
He’ll attempt to replicate the impressive statline in the City of Bridges. The Vikings play the Steelers again in 2025.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.