Steelers top free-agent signing isn't panning out

The Steelers had a very active offseason, one that some called one of the best in the league. However, one of their top acquisitions has not played as well as many had hoped a month and a half into the season.

Veteran CB Patrick Peterson, who signed a two-year, $14 million deal with Pittsburgh in March, has greatly underwhelmed through the team's first five games of the season.

Peterson has the second worst missed tackle rate (31.8 percent) in the NFL this season, per Pro Football Reference. He has also allowed 16 catches on 28 targets and four touchdowns, which is tied for the second-most in the league.

It was certainly a risk for the Steelers to go all in on the 33-year-old this offseason and it seems like he has less gas left in the tank than originally believed. There is still a lot of season left but Pittsburgh should consider moving him from being an outside corner to the team's slot corner. 

If the switch is made, the Steelers could then begin starting promising rookie CB Joey Porter Jr., who has allowed just one catch for 12 yards on 76 coverage snaps and made a touchdown-saving interception that aided a Pittsburgh comeback win against the Ravens in Week 5.

The Steelers shouldn't give up completely on Peterson this year, especially because he brings a ton of experience and mentorship to the team's young secondary. But if he continues to struggle, Pittsburgh could strongly consider moving on from him next offseason as it could save almost $7 million in cap space.

He will likely have another chance to prove he still has some good football left in him in Week 7 when the Steelers (3-2) take on the Rams (3-3). However, it won't be easy as Los Angeles boasts the sixth-best pass attack in the league, passing for 258.8 yards per game.