Steelers release veteran DB Patrick Peterson

The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson on Friday, according to a source.

Nobody was on the field for the Steelers more often this past season than Peterson, who led the team in both defensive snaps played (1,096) and overall snaps (1,173 including special teams). A likely future Hall of Fame inductee, Peterson signed a two-year contract with the Steelers last March after playing 2021 and 2022 for the Minnesota Vikings.

Peterson, who will be 34 in July, was the No. 5 overall pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2011. He was due a $3 million roster bonus by next week and a $3.85 million salary for the coming season. Though per spotrac.com Peterson’s release will make for $2.925 million in “dead money” on the Steelers’ 2024 cap, the net savings for the team via his release is $6.85 million.

A first-team cornerback on the NFL’s official team of the decade for the 2010s, Peterson began last season as a starter on the outside for the Steelers. But Peterson, coach Mike Tomlin and others had openly discussed the ability of Peterson to move around the defense.

By the end of the season when attrition had struck the Steelers’ safeties corps, Peterson was deployed at safety. After the season ended, Peterson expressed an openness to moving there fulltime. The Steelers released one of their 2023 co-starters at safety, Keanu Neal, on Thursday.

It appears likely at this stage of his career that Peterson’s days as a starting outside cornerback are behind him.

A possibility remains that the Steelers could negotiate a return with Peterson at a lower salary.

With Levi Wallace set for free agency, the Steelers have no obvious No. 2 outside CB to complement Joey Porter Jr.

The legal tampering period for free agency begins Monday. The Steelers have almost $20 million in available space under their cap.