Patrick Peterson is moving on from Arizona. The Vikings have agreed to a one-year, $10MM deal with the decorated cornerback, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter).
Now 30 (31 in July), Peterson is one of the most accomplished defenders in Cardinals history and is a member of the Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2010s. He is not, however, the player he once was. He was hit with a six-game PED suspension to start the 2019 campaign, and after Pro Football Focus graded Peterson fifth among corners in 2018, he slipped to 41st in ’19 and 83rd in ’20. Quarterbacks throwing in Peterson’s direction last season collectively completed passes at a 67% clip — nearly 10 points higher than they did in 2018.
But he did pick off three passes in 2020, to go along with eight passes defensed. He has also been tremendously durable throughout his 10-year career, as the only games he has missed were due to the aforementioned suspension.
He joins a young CB room that had been fronted by a trio of recent early-round picks. Unlike Peterson, 2018 first-rounder Mike Hughes has not been able to stay healthy and has only suited up for 24 of a possible 48 regular season games in his pro career, while 2020 first-rounder Jeff Gladney struggled a bit in his rookie campaign. Cameron Dantzler, a third-round choice last year, played reasonably well as a rookie, but the group definitely needed a veteran influence like Peterson, an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro.
Minnesota did have an offer out to Mackensie Alexander, but the Peterson signing could foreclose the possibility of an Alexander-Vikings reunion.
Wow! That was ALL about $$
Damm Vikings overpaid here
Bitter much?
Meanwhile Kirk Cousins just got killed due to his OL.
The Vikings have 874 draft picks in 2021, hopefully they will use at least 5 on the OL
Agree at least 3
What’s the guarantees? This could be a very low cost move if the guarantees are low. If he struggles or is beat in camp, cut him for next to nothing.
$8 mil guaranteed, so high. Another mil – on 2022 cap – if he makes All-Pro, which is extremely unlikely. Up to another mil if he plays 95% of snaps. Xavier Rhodes only hit 95% when he was 24 and 25, so Peterson probably won’t max out that bonus at CB. However, Harrison Smith has hit 95% every year since his rookie season that he’s played 16 games, so if the plan is to move Peterson to safety, he has a shot at the full million.
I prefer him as our CB2, not our new FS, and hope they re-sign Anthony Harris.
Shocked he didn’t stay with the Cardinals. There’s always a ton of chatter about him leaving and he always returns.
I could be wrong, but the Cardinals are a bit cash strapped due to salary cap constraints.
Nice pick up. I thought the Cowboys were going to sign him. Then again they only care about spending for offense.
Wishful thinking contract for a player who’s prime is long gone. like AJ Green.
I agree, but for the Vikings young DBs his presence and leadership could potentially elevate the whole defense…Unless they get rid of Hunter in the process than they would be a questionable move.
Glad to see him gone. Paid on reputation alone. He should be renamed “ Scorched” after all the big plays he gave up last year.
Seems like too much in dollars for not enough player.
You can bet all the Viking players asked to take pay cuts are thinking the same thing.
Be a awesome signing—4 years ago. Cb’s age quickly!!!! BE a lot better if it was $6 million total.