Steelers decision to sign cornerback Patrick Peterson is really confusing

The Steelers landed their first major free agent this offseason, and it isn’t a name many expected to be. Shortly after Cameron Sutton was announced as a Lions' signing, the team went out and brought in an older name to the mix. Patrick Peterson has found his way to Pittsburgh on a two-year deal.

I’ve seen Steelers nation go back and forth with this signing. Some seem to love the veteran presence and the big name that Peterson is. Others seem against bringing in an older cornerback, especially when regression is likely to come sooner than later. No matter what you think, the signing of Peterson is just weird.

The Steelers need cornerback help

It was no secret that the Steelers needed some cornerback help this offseason. Even if Sutton was brought back, this team was lacking a young player with the potential to grow into a plus starter. The band-aids last season were just that, and while Levi Wallace was a far player than fellow signing Ahkello Witherspoon, he wasn’t an elite player by any means.

Even had Sutton been brought back, the expectation was for an early cornerback to be brought in. That hasn’t changed with Peterson being added to the mix. While he should lock down one of the starting jobs, there is still a need for a long-term answer at cornerback.

On paper, this is a fine deal. Peterson, while older, is coming off a great season. He also is an established name, as he has been considered a top cornerback for most of his career. His play has been more hit-and-miss as he has gotten older, but I have confidence he can be a stable starter for at least one season.

The contract he signed is very team-friendly as well. He has a low first-year cap hit and a manageable one in year two, assuming he sees the second year of his deal. All of that makes this look like a fine contract for someone that should be a starter.

Why did the Steelers sign him though?

The signing is still a weird one. The Steelers haven’t been aggressively making moves this offseason, as they have been far more reserved than even I thought they would be. Outside of cutting  William Jackson, there haven’t been any major cap-clearing moves completed. For a free agency period that could have been big, the team seems content to sit on their hands.

While they have some valuable draft picks, they have way more needs than what will be filled instantly through the draft. Assuming they don’t make any sweeping additions in free agency (I expect a few more middle-of-the-road moves), you can’t expect this team to be a Super Bowl contender next season.

So why add Peterson? Sure, he can start this season and will likely hold his own, but he doesn’t push the Steelers into being a contender. Maybe they get there next season, but Peterson will be another year older and will continue to regress.

It kind of seems like a waste. The Bengals went from mediocre to Super Bowl contending by spending in free agency. They targeted more youthful options that filled needs and added them, even though it cost a bit of money. They have the cap flexibility with Joe Burrow on his rookie deal, and the moves have built a strong core for this roster to build off of in the draft.

Peterson would be a logical name for a team that is ready to contend but lacked a starting cornerback. The Steelers aren’t that, and Peterson joining the roster doesn’t move the needle much. I can’t be mad at the deal given it seems very team-friendly and Peterson has still played well, but it is hard to wrap my head around it entirely.

Had the Steelers been in a better position to succeed in 2023, then adding Peterson at this price would have been great. With this roster still so uncertain though, I can’t help but feel a little confused by this move. I can’t hate it, but I’m also struggling to make sense of it.