Patrick Peterson - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson

February 19th, 2021 at 6:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two of the best players in Cardinals history are set for free agency in March. While the Cardinals do not have to worry about Larry Fitzgerald defecting to another team, with the future Hall of Famer indicating he would only play for the Cards, Patrick Peterson could leave after 10 seasons in Arizona.

After Michael Bidwill indicated the Cardinals would like to bring back Peterson, GM Steve Keim confirmed he has spoken with the eight-time Pro Bowler this offseason, according to the Arizona Republic’s Bob McManamon.

Keim stopped short of saying he would like to extend Peterson before he hits the market, citing the salary cap uncertainty as a key reason he did not have a clear idea of the All-Decade defender’s place with the 2021 Cardinals.

Peterson’s play over the past two years has not measured up to his Pro Bowl-level work, and he will turn 31 this year. The Cardinals, however, also have Dre Kirkpatrick set for free agency and have seen Robert Alford miss two full seasons since he signed with Arizona in 2019. The team has a considerable need at cornerback.

The Cardinals are respecting Fitzgerald’s timeline. Keim has not spoken to Fitz this offseason, per McManamon. Like he has for the past few seasons, Fitzgerald is taking time to determine whether he wants to return. The 37-year-old wideout has indicated only a championship will matter for him going forward.

Fitz saw his production tumble in 2020. Although the 17-year veteran missed three games, his 31.5 yards per game represented a career-low figure — by a wide margin. After making $11MM last year, Fitz would almost certainly need to agree to a lower-cost deal if he were to return for an 18th season. Arizona has DeAndre Hopkins signed long-term, but Christian Kirk is going into a contract year after an inconsistent three-season run.

Cardinals Hope To Re-Sign Patrick Peterson

February 18th, 2021 at 12:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals hope to retain Patrick Peterson, owner Michael Bidwill says (via the team website). The cornerback has spent his entire ten-year career in Arizona, but he’ll be eligible for free agency in March.

“Pat and I have had a number of conversations. I’ve been very clear that we want to have him back,” Bidwill said. “We all know that the salary cap is going to go down. I think a lot of these veteran players need to work with us, and they need to understand that while their salary expectations and their compensation expectations may be one thing, we’ve got to look at it from the reality that the salary cap is going down. It’s our hope we can work something out that works for both the club and for Pat to keep him in a Cardinals uniform. He’s been an important part of what we’ve done in the past, and hope to keep him in the future.”

Bidwill’s comments regarding the salary cap decrease are accurate, though the drop might not be all that severe. Earlier today, we learned that the league’s salary cap floor will be set at $180MM, rather than $175MM. That bodes well for the max, which was once projected to be $180MM-$181MM for 2021.

Peterson, meanwhile, is one of the most accomplished defenders in franchise history. Of courses, things have been bumpy in recent years. P2’s performance has slipped a bit over the past two seasons, and his 2019 PED suspension didn’t help his case much. Coincidentally, Peterson backed down from his trade demand right around the same time. In 2020, Pro Football Focus ranked Peterson as just the No. 83 CB in the NFL. In 2018, he placed fifth.

The Cardinals have a leg up on other teams, with Kyler Murray having multiple years to go on his rookie deal. However, they’ll have to balance their affinity for Peterson against other needs. They’ll also look to re-sign Larry Fitzgerald, if he ultimately decides to return for another season.

Cardinals To Let Patrick Peterson Walk?

February 17th, 2021 at 10:20am CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top defenders in Cardinals history may be on the move next month. The Cardinals bringing Patrick Peterson back on a third contract stands as an unlikely scenario, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.

The former top-five pick was linked to trades in 2018 and ’19 and a possible Cardinals extension last year, but he remained with the Cardinals on a contract he signed way back in 2014. Peterson played out that deal last year and is one month from unrestricted free agency for the first time.

However, Peterson has seen his play slip a bit over the past two seasons. The All-Decade performer made eight Pro Bowls to start his career but was slapped with a six-game PED suspension to start the 2019 season. 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.

The Cards’ extension talks with Peterson stalled in May of last year and did not regain steam ahead of his age-30 season. Peterson, who will turn 31 in June, said last week no final decision has been made between he and the Cardinals about a separation. Were Peterson to leave, the Cardinals would need immediate help at corner. They also have Dre Kirkpatrick bound for free agency and have seen 2019 acquisition Robert Alford miss two full seasons. Byron Murphy‘s rookie deal runs through 2022, but Arizona may need multiple new cogs to join him soon.

Peterson hitting the market would mean two members of the 2010s All-Decade corner contingent would be free agents, with fellow 2011 draftee Richard Sherman on track for free agency.

Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson On Free Agency

February 9th, 2021 at 11:59am CST by Zachary Links

This week, there were rumblings about Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals agreeing to part ways. However, that was nothing more than a “dirty rumor,” according to the cornerback (via the team website).

“There is no real update,” Peterson said on his All Things Covered podcast. “It is just…a dirty rumor. Me and the team haven’t talked about contracts, we haven’t talked about parting ways. That’s just what it is, a dirty rumor.”

Peterson, 31 in July, is set to hit the open market in March. In 2020, he counted for a $13.2MM charge against Arizona’s salary cap. With a new multi-year deal, the Cardinals could have the flexibility to spread out the hits over time, provided that they want to move forward with him.

Drafted fifth overall by Arizona back in 2011, Peterson has become a franchise icon over the past decade. After eight Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro selections, and countless flare-ups with team brass, P2 says he’s open to a new arrangement. He could wind up anywhere, he concedes, but one thing is for sure — he wants to keep playing. In fact, his goal is to keep it going for another six seasons to solidify what he says is a “Hall of Fame resume.”

NFC West Notes: Sowers, 49ers, Peterson

January 10th, 2021 at 9:34pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Katie Sowers made history as one of the NFL’s first full-time female coaches, and as its first openly gay coach, but she won’t be back with the 49ers next year. Sowers is parting ways with San Francisco, she announced on Instagram. “Dear Faithful,
We have been through so much together over the last 4 years and words will never express how much your love and acceptance meant to me. I will forever cherish the memories and hearing your stories throughout the years. Together, we made a difference in this world. You were there every step of the way..from my first day at Levi’s , to the super bowl, and even when my Dad passed away. You all supported me through it all. Change is inevitable in this life.. enjoy every minute and cherish the memories because time will pass you by faster than you know. One last walk out of the tunnel. I am forever grateful for my time in SF… until we meet again,” she wrote.

Sowers became the first woman to coach in a Super Bowl last year. She’s been a full-time offensive assistant on Kyle Shanahan’s staff the past few seasons. It doesn’t sound like she has any plans to stop coaching though, and she said in a recent interview with Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle that the lack of a clear path upward was the reason for her departure. “In terms of advancement opportunities, there are more other places than here, in terms of my ceiling for growth. I feel like I have a lot to offer. It’s been an amazing learning experience here, but instead of staying as is, it’s best for my professional growth if I move on.” That doesn’t mean it was a bitter divorce with the 49ers however, as Sowers emphasized that she “loved” her time there.

Here’s more from the NFC West:

Sowers might not be the only staff member Shanahan needs to replace if defensive coordinator Robert Saleh lands a head coaching job. Should one of the handful of teams interviewing Saleh offer him the gig, it sounds like the 49ers could look in-house for his replacement. Linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans is a candidate for the DC role should that happen, Shanahan said at his year-end press conference. Shanahan also added that “it’s a matter of time before DeMeco is coordinator in this league, a matter of time before he’s a head coach.” Ryans played as a linebacker for ten years in the league with the Texans and Eagles before retiring and joining the 49ers as a quality control coach in 2017.
The Cardinals are keeping Kliff Kingsbury, but his staff isn’t remaining entirely intact. The team is letting receivers coach David Raih go, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets. Raih spent the past two years in Arizona after previously serving the same role in Green Bay.
The Cardinals also have a bigger decision ahead of them, what to do with star cornerback Patrick Peterson. Peterson is set to be a free agent this spring, and he recently acknowledged he might’ve played his last down in the desert. “Everything is going to take care of itself. I’ve done all I can to present that I would love to be here. But at the end of the day, it’s up to (the Cardinals),” Peterson said, via Darren Urban of the team’s official site (Twitter link). Peterson also said the potential salary cap drop due to COVID-19 could play a role in where he lands this offseason. Drafted fifth overall by Arizona back in 2011, Peterson has become a franchise icon over the past ten seasons. He’s made eight Pro Bowls and earned three first-team All-Pro selections, but he hasn’t been as good the past couple of years and is now on the wrong side of 30. It’ll be very interesting to see what his market looks like come March.

Cardinals Haven’t Discussed Extension For Chandler Jones

September 20th, 2020 at 11:41am CST by Rory Parks

Teams are generally reluctant to discuss extensions for players who have multiple years remaining on their existing deals because it could encourage other players on the roster to demand a new deal before the club is prepared to give them one. The people introduce the Cardinals as Exhibit “A.”

Arizona recently finalized a two-year extension with star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, even though Hopkins was already under club control for three more seasons. But according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the team has made no effort to rework Chandler Jones‘ deal, despite Jones’ continued excellence both on and off the field.

Jones is under contract through the 2021 season, but rival execs still believe it’s unusual that the Cardinals have not at least explored an extension. After all, Jones has been arguably the league’s best pass rusher since Arizona acquired him from the Patriots in March 2016, and the 60 sacks that he posted from 2016-19 are eight more than anyone else in the league during that span. The extension he signed in March 2017 will pay him a $16MM salary this year and a $15.5MM salary next season, but those payouts pale in comparison to the $25-$27MM AAVs that players like Joey Bosa and Myles Garrett recently pulled down from their clubs.

Jones, 30, is not the type of player to publicly voice his displeasure, but La Canfora says his contract situation has been “festering” all offseason. The fact that Hopkins got a new deal before ever playing a snap for the Cards certainly didn’t help matters, and it didn’t go unnoticed in the locker room. Though his age may prevent him from getting Bosa or Garrett money, Jones is certainly due for a pay bump, and it will be interesting to see if GM Steve Keim starts thinking about one before the end of the season.

We recently heard that the club has not engaged in any substantive contract talks with cornerback Patrick Peterson, and La Canfora confirms that report. Peterson, though, is playing out his contract year and is eligible for free agency in 2021.

No Talks For Cardinals, Patrick Peterson

September 10th, 2020 at 1:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Patrick Peterson is entering his walk year, but the summer didn’t yield any meaningful extension talks with the Cardinals (via the team website). The cornerback hasn’t been shy about speaking out against the club in the past, but he says he won’t let the situation cloud his season.

“I’m at peace (with the contract),” Peterson said. “There’s nothing I can do about it. I’m under contract until the end of the season. All I can do right now is play ball. The ball is in my court. All I have to do is go out and play P2 football, playing all-around solid football, taking No. 1s out of the game, not giving up any touchdowns, just getting back to that form.”

It’s been a minute since we’ve seen “P2 football” in action. The 30-year-old tallied 53 total tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed in his shortened ten-game campaign. That marked the first campaign of his career without perfect attendance. After months of drama and trade demands, he was hit with a six-game ban for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. At that point, he changed course, telling the world that he wanted to spend the rest of his career in Arizona.

On the whole, however, Peterson has been pretty stellar. Over the last nine years, he’s registered 25 interceptions while eclipsing some of the league’s most dangerous wide receivers.

Talks Stall Between Cardinals, Patrick Peterson

May 28th, 2020 at 12:16pm CST by Zachary Links

There hasn’t been a lot of conversation between the Cardinals and Patrick Peterson on a new deal, the cornerback says (Twitter link via Darren Urban of the team website). Still, as he enters his walk year, P2 says he wants to continue and ultimately finish his career with the only team he’s ever known.

Peterson is set to carry a $13.2MM charge against the 2020 salary cap. An extension could allow the Cardinals could tamp that number down a bit (though, probably not by much) while giving Peterson extra security as he enters his 30s.

Peterson, 30 in July, tallied 53 total tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed in his shortened ten-game season. That marked the first campaign of his career without perfect attendance.

Last year, Peterson told the Cardinals that he wanted to be traded. Later, he was hit with a six-game ban for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. At that point, he changed course, telling the world that he wanted to spend the rest of his career in Arizona.

Despite all of the friction, Peterson has been phenomenal for the most part. Over the last nine years, he’s tallied 25 interceptions while blanketing some of the league’s most dangerous receivers. He didn’t deliver his finest work in 2019, but he believes that he can help launch the Cardinals into contention in 2020.

“It’s going to come down to us to manage the locker room, manage the egos and make sure everybody is on the same page and understand that we have to commit to one another, believe in one another and trust one another,” Peterson said. “If we do those three things, we can be in Tampa (for the Super Bowl) ready to face whoever, and ready to hopefully bring that Lombardi trophy, the first Lombardi trophy, home to Arizona.”

Cardinals, Patrick Peterson Talking Extension

February 14th, 2020 at 10:19am CST by Zachary Links

Extension talks between cornerback Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals are underway, GM Steve Keim said in an interview with 98.7 FM (Twitter link via Darren Urban of the team website). Peterson has one more year to go on his contract and a new deal could make sense for both sites.

[Cardinals GM: We Won’t Cut David Johnson]

As it stands, Peterson is slated to count for $13.2MM against the 2020 salary cap. A new deal could help to smooth out his hit while giving the cornerback additional security as he enters his 30s.

Last offseason, Peterson told the Cardinals that he wanted to be traded. Later, he was hit with a six-game ban for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. After receiving the bad news, he backpedaled by saying he hopes to play his entire career in Arizona.

Peterson, 30 in July, tallied 53 total tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed in his shortened ten-game season. This marked the first campaign of his career without perfect attendance.

The Cardinals lifer began building a reputation as one of the league’s best corners right out of the gate. After being selected No. 5 overall in the 2011 draft, Peterson was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in his rookie season. The follow-up didn’t disappoint, either. Peterson snagged seven interceptions as an NFL sophomore, solidifying his top-tier status. Over the last nine years, he’s come away with 25 turnovers and while blanketing some of the league’s most dangerous receivers.

Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson Vows To Return

December 16th, 2019 at 8:53am CST by Zachary Links

It’s been a bumpy road for the Cardinals and Patrick Peterson, but the star cornerback says he’ll stay the course. After Sunday’s contest against the Browns, P2 said it won’t be his final game in Arizona.

“This won’t be my last home game here,” Peterson said. “I’ll be back.”

Peterson, 29, has just one year to go on the five-year, $70MM extension he inked back in 2014. If Peterson was unhappy and the Cardinals wanted to go in a different direction, the club could theoretically drop him to save $12.55MM against just $634K in dead money.

However, the veteran appears to be content and he’s been performing well on an individual level. On Sunday, he came away with an interception in the end zone in the first quarter and would have gotten a second INT late in the game had he not landed out of bounds after catching a pass from Baker Mayfield. He also contained Odell Beckham Jr. when it mattered most, helping the Cards come away with a 38-24 win.

“That’s my first time ever going up against Odell,” said Peterson. “It was a pleasure. One fellow Tiger against another. It was a fun matchup. It was a fun game. I knew I was going to have a couple of opportunities with Baker being the gunslinger he is. I wanted to make the best of the opportunities when they came towards me.”

Of course, with one year to go on his deal and his 30th birthday on the horizon in July, Peterson is eyeing another lucrative extension.