The Minnesota Vikings have overhauled their cornerback room in the last three offseasons, and no player at the position has remained from the 2022 season. That defense was coordinated by Ed Donatell, who got fired after that campaign.
Former Viking and Potential Hall of Famer to Retire Next Week
His cornerbacks were a rotation of slot corner Chandon Sullivan, rookies Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr., former third-rounder Cam Dantzler, and practice squad guy Duke Shelley. The latter turned into a star and a fan favorite for a few weeks. On the other side, of course, the CB1 roamed the field. His name? Patrick Peterson.
The veteran cornerback was signed in the final offseason of Mike Zimmer’s tenure. Despite stating publically that he signed in part because of the coach, he was re-signed when a new regime arrived and continued to be the top CB.
Although he was still a reasonable starter, he didn’t have the same explosiveness he once had with the Cardinals, where he was one of the best players (let alone cornerbacks) in the league.
Peterson will retire next week in Arizona. He hasn’t played in the league since the 2023 season.
Adam Schefter reported, “Eight-time Pro-Bowl CB Patrick Peterson will be in Arizona on Monday to retire as a Cardinal, per source. Peterson played 13 years in the NFL, including his first 10 seasons in Arizona, where he was a three-time All-Pro selection.”
Peterson, now 34, was the fifth overall pick out of LSU in 2011. He went to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons (2011-2018) in the NFL and was a three-time first-team All-Pro (2011, 2013, 2015).
After ten seasons, he departed from the Cardinals and signed with the Vikings. Two years later, he headed to the AFC for the first time, playing one season with the Steelers in 2023.
In October of last season, he stated he would love to return to the Vikings if they were calling:
“I would like to be there too,” Peterson responded when asked about a return to Minnesota on the Zach Gelb Show. “I love the coaching staff there. Coach Kevin, had an opportunity to build a solid relationship over the nine months that I was with him. It’s just a great feel and a great organization to be around. Great guys to be around and show up to go to work with every day.”
They didn’t, and quite frankly, it’s not like they lacked experienced (or old) players in the secondary, with Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, and Fabian Moreau handling CB2 through CB4 duties.
His NFL statistics are impressive. In 13 campaigns, he played in 201 games (200 starts) and tabulated 36 interceptions, four sacks, and 652 tackles. He also scored four punt return touchdowns (all in 2011) and returned two interceptions for six points each.
It remains to be seen whether that is enough for a Hall of Fame induction, but he has the statistics and the accolades and was surely regarded as one of the top two or three cornerbacks for years.
