Patrick Peterson Hopes to Return to the Steelers

Regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ needs at the start of OTAs, slot cornerback ranks near the top. The team has options like Josiah Scott, Thomas Graham, and Beanie Bishop, but none of those players ring out as the answer that gives the team finality at the position. Patrick Peterson, however, is a free agent and has maintained that he is interested in returning to Pittsburgh.

The Steelers trusted Peterson to play all over the field a year ago. For the first time in his career, Peterson played as safety and slot cornerback. They could use someone with Peterson’s veteran football smarts while adding familiarity. And on Tuesday, Peterson stated that he hoped a return to the Steelers would occur.

“We’ve still got time left on the table,” Peterson said on “The Jim Rome Show.” “Hopefully, I can get something done with the Steelers. That’s the team that I definitely want to play for because I have so much respect for Coach Tomlin.”

The Steelers have remained noncommittal to the possibility, but Mike Tomin did not rule it out. General manager Omar Khan emphasized after the NFL Draft that the team would move forward with the idea that none of the three aforementioned slot cornerback options would return. But that door is not completely shut.

“You know, they’re not a part of the team right now. So, until they’re a part of the team, you know, we have to look at every avenue to try to improve the position and add competition and address the needs,” Khan said.

The Steelers released Patrick Peterson in March to free up cap space, but by doing that, the move left them with a void in the secondary. They partially filled that by trading Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson. Jackson profiles as the outside cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr., but the team is still searching for the definite answer in the slot. Peterson might be one of the players that the team could turn to as the answer.