Arizona Cardinals should get at least a first-round pick for Patrick Peterson in a trade

If the Arizona Cardinals do trade Patrick Peterson, they should be able to get a big-time haul.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Patrick Peterson‘s disgruntled attitude towards the Arizona Cardinals. Prior to the 2018 trade deadline, the eight-time Pro Bowler, Peterson asked for a trade although he stayed in the desert and acknowledged that he’d like to stay in Arizona, his frustration with the organization recently reignited.

Peterson had a meltdown on Instagram that included a few “subtweet” type posts that didn’t really say much and a picture reminiscing on the past of the defense. He did acknowledge in a comment that he is frustrated with the Cardinals’ front-office moves.

He also removed all Arizona Cardinals mentions from his social media profiles. See Instagram and Twitter.

After the Instagram meltdown, Antonio Bryant, yes Larry Fitzgerald‘s college teammate that said Bosa was the pick, said on Twitter that Peterson was being traded the Chiefs, but was then later deleted.

But, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio did say that although the Chiefs weren’t in on him, that there is substance to the reports and something is going on.

Peterson then didn’t show up to mini-camp, and that leads us to where we are now.

Although unlikely, if the Cardinals were to trade Peterson, there would be an active market pursuing the future Hall of Famer still in his prime. The former LSU cornerback is just 28 years old and has been a Pro Bowler in every season of play.

For cornerback-needy teams (think Chiefs, Texans, Buccanneers, Steelers, Lions, etc) Peterson would be the best option out of the trade market, draft, and free agency to cure their pass defenses; though the draft has solid options, none project to be the next Patrick Peterson, a cornerback who has proved himself year-in-year-out.

The cornerback is also on a deal for two more seasons that averages about $12.5 million per year, per Over The Cap, which is below corners such as Kyle Fuller, Trumaine Johnson, A.J. Bouye, and Desmond Trufant.

Simply put, he’s a transcendent talent on an affordable contract. Because of that, the Cardinals would ask a minimum of about a mid-round pick for the 2019 draft, but that may not be all. For teams with later picks such as the Texans and Steelers, they may have to include another early pick, which would be a good value for both sides.

However, don’t be surprised if a deal doesn’t happen. Although the Cardinals would surely get good value, separating themselves for a leader would not only affect the locker room, it would also mean the team would have yet another team need. I doubt a trade happens.