Steelers Get Timeline on Patrick Peterson Signing

The Pittsburgh Steelers know when they need to do business by.

Sep 24, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson (20) celebrates / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are open to bringing back veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson, but to this point, no conversations have been made public about the two sides re-negotiating a return.

During an interview on the Fox NFL Podcast, Peterson laid out when he anticipates signing with a team, giving the Steelers and their fans some knowledge as to when they should begin those talks to re-sign him - if they want to.

"At this stage now, the draft is around the corner," Peterson said. "Teams are still trying to build their roster, but at the same time, you want to make sure that whatever team that you’re going to that you’re going to that you’re not getting any BS. … I think a lot more signings are probably going to happen towards after the draft once teams really understand what they have on the roster and what they may need to continue to improve their rosters. … Me and my agent have had conversations with a couple of teams, nothing really serious thus far. But there has been conversations, and like I said, we’ll see what happens in the next couple months."

Head coach Mike Tomlin said at the 2024 NFL Meetings that the team is open to bringing Peterson back this season. The 33-year-old started 16 of 17 games last season, playing both cornerback and safety while recording two interceptions.

"We’re open to it as well," Tomlin said. "But, you know, there’s so much business in front of us and we just felt like it was appropriate to be transparent with him to give him an opportunity to assess what’s out there totality."

Peterson would likely return as a cornerback, but said there would be some things that needed to be discussed prior to signing if any team, including the Steelers, wanted to move him to safety this season.

"I don’t want to start at safety because that’s a different animal back there, a different view," Peterson said. "If that is the case, I would need to be warned going into the season to get my body, my mental prepared. Because it’s different being at safety from a cornerback position having those open-field tackles. … And you’re the last line of defense. So if that is something, I would need notice and probably get one of those old-time safeties like a Ed Reed and or (Troy) Polamalu or somebody to coach me up."

The Steelers currently need a slot corner and a backup for the outside. Their expected starters are Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson, with Cory Trice and Darius Rush behind them.

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