Arizona Cardinals star corner is hoping to sign extension

Cornerback Patrick Peterson will need to play much better in 2020 to obtain a contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals

Heading into the 2019 offseason, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson appeared to be on top of the world. The star of the club’s defensive backfield was fresh off of an eighth-consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, an honor bestowed upon him after another strong performance in 2018. It was an incredible streak, and there was no reason to believe that Peterson’s excellence on the football field wouldn’t continue when last season got underway.

All systems were go for Peterson until the NFL delivered some devastating news in May of ’19. The league office announced that the Cards top cover guy had failed a drug test, and would be suspended for six games. Peterson tested positive for PEDs, and a masking agent was also discovered in the damning urine sample that had been submitted by the player.

Arizona, to put it bluntly, was stunned. In his eight professional campaigns, Peterson had never missed a matchup. The team would have to move forward without the leader of their secondary, but the task ahead would be extremely difficult.

Peterson returned to the Cardinals in week seven, but the hiatus had clearly affected his play. The squad’s number-one draft pick in 2011 was beaten like a drum far too often, sometimes by wideouts he had once dominated. Peterson did manage to get it together towards the end of the schedule, but a ninth-straight trip to the Pro Bowl wasn’t even a consideration for the well-respected corner.

Despite the fact that Peterson was coming off of a nightmarish campaign, there’s been talk this offseason about a contract extension for the former LSU star. The Cards have been reluctant to make that commitment, however, after what transpired with the Florida native in ’19. Peterson, who recently stated that he’d like to stay with Arizona, has just one year remaining on his current deal.

The Cardinals will likely refrain from rewarding the shutdown cornerback with a new contract until he can prove that he’s worthy of it. A strong showing this coming fall could ultimately convince general manager Steve Keim to open up the organization’s checkbook for the 29-year old Peterson. You can bet that the Cards, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph for that matter, would love nothing more.