Despite an excellent game against the Las Vegas Raiders, cornerback Patrick Peterson hasn’t given the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary what they need.
Through six games, Peterson’s allowed 19 receptions on 33 targets, 15 first downs and four touchdowns. He’s logged just one through six games after tying for second in interceptions in 2022.
In his Tuesday press conference, Mike Tomlin addressed moving Peterson around, a primary reason he was brought to Pittsburgh in free agency.
“That’s why we brought Pat here. He’s a veteran player, he’s smart. If you remember, we moved Cam Sutton around a lot. Essentially, he is Cam Sutton. Position flexibility was an attractive component to the acquisition of him.”
According to Pro Football Focus advanced stats, Peterson has lined up in zone 60 percent, in man 39 percent and press 22 percent. Tomlin hinted at Peterson playing some safety this season, but he’s only seen 11 looks there and 86 at slot corner. He’s usually lined up over or outside the right wide receiver (298 snaps).
Perhaps Peterson’s best quality has been behind the scenes. He’s been a great mentor for Joey Porter Jr., the future of Pittsburgh’s secondary.
According to Over the Cap, Peterson is owed a $3.85 roster bonus in March with a total cap number of $9.775 (3.8 percent of the cap). Should he be released after the season, $2.925 dead money will be on the books, but the team would save $6.85 million.
It’s not just Peterson that’s the problem. The entire Steelers secondary has been a major disappointment in 2023. The 29th-ranked unit has allowed a 63.5 completion percentage and 12.3 yards per completion to start the season.
