The offseason has treated the Pittsburgh Steelers well! With the addition of new linemen like Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo, linebackers like Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, new safeties like Keanu Neal, and new receivers like Allen Robinson. And let’s not forget they also had one of the best drafts of 2023 with the additions of Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr, Darnell Washington, and more to make a stacked draft class! But what is a player that has gotten people more excited? The first singing in free agency the Steelers made was good! Ladies and gentlemen, Patrick Peterson!
Peterson was one of the favorites in the draft with his play in LSU, making many teams look towards calling him during draft night. Three head coaches went to see him at his LSU Pro Day; Ron Rivera, Sean Payton, and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin himself. Patrick Peterson joined the league in 2011 when he was drafted fifth overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
Former LSU Tiger Patrick Peterson (7) – Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
Peterson’s rookie year would be good as he would get two interceptions and even four kick return touchdowns. He would even be named to the Pro Bowl as a returner in his rookie season and even be named #55 of the Top 100 NFL Players of 2012. His entire career in Arizona would be legendary until 2020 when he wouldn’t be resigned. In his career in The Copper State, he would record 28 interceptions, 464 total tackles, four sacks, 91 passes defended, two forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, and a pick-six. The Minnesota Vikings would later sign him.
Former Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson (21) – Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Peterson would spend two years in Minnesota, keep his career in good spirits, and show he’s still got it. In those two years, he would record six interceptions, 111 total tackles, 20 passes defended, and a pick-six. Going into free agency and in your 30s in the NFL is never going to be easy, but Peterson has such a good resume that it should help him be able to sign with another team, and it did! From The North Star state to the AFC North Star, the Pittsburgh Steelers!
Former Vikings CB Patrick Peterson (7) – Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The acquisition of Peterson was a positive reaction by most Steeler fans due to the Steelers just losing cornerback Cameron Sutton to free agency and Patrick Peterson still balling out at 32 years old. The Steelers would sign him to a 2-year, $14 million contract. The only thing that bothered Steeler fans was when he requested jersey number seven which was, luckily, a joke on his part, with Ben Roethlisberger just retiring in 2021.
But a bonus with Peterson is that he has no issue passing on wisdom to new corners like Joey Porter Jr and Cory Trice. And the corner position has been an issue for a bit, with the Steelers secondary only having Minkah Fitzpatrick, the only elite part of it all from last year. But with a veteran who can still perform great and also embark on wisdom for the next two years to younger corners, it sounds like a win-win for the black and gold brigade. But the question on everyone’s mind is this, can Peterson make Year 13 lucky 13, or is the veteran past his prime?
He hasn’t had a bad season since he was drafted but a lot can happen between training camp, preseason, and then the kickoff for the Steelers. Will Patrick Peterson prove to be the elite corner he’s possessed to be since 2011, or is there other players destined to break out? To see the players that are due for a break out in 2023, read here;
