Arizona Cardinals could choose to cut ties with Corey Peters

It’s no secret that the Arizona Cardinals think the world of Corey Peters. The veteran defensive tackle’s leadership, both on and off of the playing field, has made him a valuable member of the organization for the past six years. Nevertheless, the possibility exists that the relationship between the Cards and Peters could be coming to an end.

Peters, a former third-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons, is preparing to test the free-agent market. The 32-year old is coming off of a torn patellar tendon that sidelined him for the final seven games of Arizona’s 2020 campaign. It was an unfortunate incident for the classy Peters, who’ll be looking to continue an NFL career that began back in 2010.

In nine starts this past fall, Peters contributed 15 tackles, two sacks and four quarterback hits for the Cardinals. The season-ending injury occurred in week 10, during a 32-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Peters was carted off of the field that Sunday, in what very well could have been his last appearance in a Cards uniform.

Arizona’s front office may have begun making preparations for the departure of Peters last April. During the fourth round of the draft, general manager Steve Keim and his cohorts nabbed two defensive tackles. The University of Utah’s Leki Fotu was taken with the 114th-overall choice, and LSU’s Rashard Lawrence was selected 17 picks later (131st-overall).

The Cardinals also invested a boatload of money into the position last year during the free agency signing period. Jordan Phillips was handed a three-year, $30 million contract in March of 2019, and will count $12 million against next season’s salary-cap. If he has any hope of remaining in the desert, Peters would likely have to agree to a team-friendly deal to do so.

Perhaps the Cards will find a way to keep Peters in the fold. Ironically, the Pennsylvania native received the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year honor for the 2020 campaign. It’s a distinguished award, but only time will tell what the future holds for the well-liked defender.