Usually, at this point in the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs are in the assessment phase. Additionally, anticipate that KC may investigate a depth player, or possibly an emergency starter, at positions like offensive line, running back, and cornerback when the NFL’s veteran free agent market takes shape.
In reference to the latter, Dave Merritt, the defensive backs coach for the Chiefs, and Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator, have already acknowledged that L’Jarius Sneed won’t be replaced in 2024. making a suggestion during a May 30 media conference about a committee approach at cornerback in his absence.
If the Chiefs decide they need some insurance and expertise behind the youth, it makes room for a veteran addition. If Kansas City chooses this path, Stephon Gilmore is the more costly choice; nevertheless, on June 1, expert Christopher Knox of Bleacher Report recommended a less costly contender.
Knox stated that the Chiefs, who traded L’Jarius Sneed this offseason, would also benefit greatly from having Patrick Peterson. recognizing that Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie are two of Kansas City’s outstanding young corners. Not to mention Joshua Williams, who made significant progress in 2023 but is still frequently overlooked.
But the analyst contended that “a championship-caliber defense can never have too much cornerback depth.” “And the Chiefs are the most alluring team for Peterson to join if he wants to end his career with a ring.”
The Stats of the Ageless Patrick Peterson Have Hardly Dropped
From an analytical perspective, Peterson’s poorest coverage years occurred in 2019 and 2020, near the end of his tenure in Arizona. This is evident in his incredible career.
Ever since, the legendary player has managed to revitalize his abilities while playing for the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pro Football Focus reports that Peterson gave up a quarterback rating of 80.4 and 66.8 in the previous two seasons, respectively. His 51.7 reception percentage and 186 yards after the catch in 2023, when targeted, were even more remarkable.
In a higher amount of coverage snaps, the latter gained just 23 yards over Sneed.
The last role that Peterson excels at is that of a playmaker and ball hawk. In the previous season, he forced eight incompletions and now has 36 career interceptions. As a point of comparison, Sneed forced 17 incompletions in 2023 and was two behind the league lead, whereas McDuffie only forced two.
You can see that even though Peterson will turn 34 in July, he is still a highly dependable cornerback with a wealth of information and experience to provide. He may not be an All-Pro at age 33.
Patrick Peterson Would Be the Ideal Coach for the Young Chiefs CB Core
There are a few factors to take into account when bringing in a veteran player in the late offseason, and not all of them are related to the player’s performance on the field.
The potential impact that most senior signings have on younger talents is an underappreciated side effect. Peterson would be a great addition in that regard.
The thirteen-year-old, eight-time Pro Bowler, and three-time All-Pro has received a lot of accolades for his abilities as a teammate. During his stint with the Arizona Cardinals, he was chosen as the defensive team captain. Additionally, he has typically received positive feedback from the groups he has visited.
It’s definitely not a bad idea to have him around to coach players like McDuffie, Williams, Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Nic Jones, Chamarri Conner, and 2024 draft pick Kamal Hadden.
Of course, there are drawbacks as well. Kansas City now has to make a roster cut at cornerback, or at some other position, that they may not have made in the first place because of Peterson. Someone like Jones, 2024 OTA star Kelvin Joseph, or 2023 UDFA Ekow Boye-Doe, maybe.
Throughout his career, Peterson has never been a backup; in 2023, he started 16 games for the Packers. Would he be open to playing a rotating role for Kansas City?
To put it mildly, that’s an intriguing free agent recommendation, but the Chiefs will probably only sign him if they have serious concerns about their cornerback room. That doesn’t seem to be the case as of right now.
Michael Obermuller started writing for Heavy.com in 2021 and currently covers the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, and Kansas City Chiefs. Born and raised in the New York City, he graduated from Quinnipiac University. He has written for FanDuel’s The Duel, King Fantasy Sports, and Pro Football Mania.Additional information regarding Michael Obermuller
