Steelers Agree to Deal with All-Pro CB Patrick Peterson

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached an agreement to sign Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson, according to multiple media reports.

Peterson, 32, was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and has been an eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro in his 12-year NFL career.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Steelers and Peterson have a greed on a two-year contact. The terms of the deal were not immediately reported.

The 6-foot-1, 198-pound Peterson will likely replace Cam Sutton as one of the Steelers’ starting outside cornerbacks. Sutton agreed to sign with the Detroit Lions earlier on Monday.
Peterson started 30 games over the last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, including all 17 in 2022, when he led the Vikings with five interceptions and 15 passes defended.

Pro Football Focus gave Peterson an 80.7 grade for 2022, the second-highest full season mark of his entire career. But that recognition did not carry over to other areas. Peterson has not been to the Pro Bowl since 2018, despite being a popular figure around the league.

Peterson has a CBS Sports podcast with former Steelers cornerback Bryan McFadden called All Things Covered.

In Peterson, not only have the Steelers replaced Sutton’s abilities at cornerback (Sutton had three interceptions and 15 passes defended compared to Peterson’s five and 15 last year), they have also found another leader for the position group. Sutton had been the longest-tenured Steelers defensive back before his departure.

Peterson is the first external free agent the Steelers have agreed to a contract with and Sutton is the only of the team’s 18 UFAs to agree to sign elsewhere through the first five hours of free agent contact.