Steelers could release eight-time Pro Bowler unless he takes pay cut

The Steelers made a few cuts on Monday as they attempt to get under the salary cap ahead of free agency, but they are still projected to be $7.44M over, which means more releases are likely on the way and one could be in the form of an eight-time Pro Bowler.

That player is veteran CB Patrick Peterson, who signed a two-year, $14M contract with Pittsburgh last offseason. Peterson will be 34 at the start of next season and has a cap hit of nearly $10M, per Spotrac.

That's way too much money for a player that was consistently picked on and forced him and the team to consider a position change to safety.

Peterson believes a switch to safety could extend his career, but the Steelers would save $6.85M if they were to part ways with him. That's what the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo thinks will happen unless he takes a pay cut.

"Better than 50-50 unless he takes a pay cut to return," Fittipaldo said. "That's my analysis. Can't see them taking on a $10 million cap hit for a guy who can no longer play outside. And you don't keep that cap hit for a hybrid safety rotational type player."

Peterson did show flashes of why he was selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, totaling 42 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed. But there seemed to be more bad than good, proving his age has finally caught up with him.

Although Peterson was able to fill in at safety when Pittsburgh was riddled with injuries at the position, he was still a liability for the team, posting his highest missed tackle percentage of his career.

Peterson has a difficult decision to make following the 13th season of his impressive NFL career. The Steelers would likely welcome him back in 2024 as he has been a great mentor to some of their young players. But that's only if he takes the pay cut, of course.