Cardinals, Patrick Peterson expected to part ways in free agency

After 10 years in the Valley of the Sun, it seems that Patrick Peterson will not be returning to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021.

With future Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Patrick Peterson entering his free agency, he is not expected to return to the Arizona Cardinals for an 11th season.

Per FanSided‘s Matt Verderame, “the Arizona Cardinals and former All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson are parting ways barring a significant change in stances.”

Peterson was a Pro Bowler in his first eight NFL seasons out of LSU, making three All-Pro First Teams and the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. However, he has not been that level of a player for the last two seasons.

Could Patrick Peterson experience a renaissance playing for a second team?

Through 10 NFL seasons, Peterson is a lock for Canton. He has done everything outside of getting to the Super Bowl or winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. While the latter is probably not happening for him in his early 30s, he can relocate to a proven winner or two in the last third of his illustrious career or so. However, he may not be the player he once was, so caveat emptor indeed.

The hope is Peterson can be what Richard Sherman was for the San Francisco 49ers after leaving the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. Peterson is the better all-around talent historically, but Sherman has been to three Super Bowls in his hall-of-fame career as well. Look for some team in needed of a veteran presence in the back-end to potentially pursue Peterson in his impending free agency.

Peterson leaving Arizona is just another example of the NFL being at its very core a business.