Shutdown corners are one of the hardest commodities to find in the NFL, so it’s no wonder why the Arizona Cardinals are opening their wallet to keep theirs.
According to ESPN, the Cardinals and cornerback Patrick Peterson are working on hammering out a contract extension that could be worth more than $60 million.
The Cardinals and Patrick Peterson are reportedly negotiating an extension that could be worth in excess of $60 mil. pic.twitter.com/aqKrNdMhLq
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 13, 2014
The news comes just days after the Seattle Seahawks did the same with their top corner Richard Sherman, who earned a $57 million pay raise.
Peterson said he believes he is worth more than the four-year, $57 million extension Sherman received, and there were indications that whatever deal Sherman received would serve as a model for Peterson’s.
Via ESPN:
“I’m making OK money right now, but I’m just not making his money right now,” Peterson said.
“I think cornerbacks are definitely worth the dollars that they get because now this league is a passing league,” he said. “You need that shutdown corner to lock down one side of the field, or like myself, go out there the entire field.”
Peterson is set to make $2.88 million this coming season and $10 million in 2015. He has played in all 16 games each of his first three seasons in Arizona. As a defensive back, he’s totaled 12 interceptions and 43 pass defenses. And as a punt returner, he scored four touchdowns his rookie season, but received less opportunities in 2013.
That will likely be the trend going forward, according to the Arizona Republic, which reported Cardinals coach Bruce Arians wants Peterson to focus solely on being an elite cornerback and “taking out receivers.”
Asked whether he was confident a deal will get done with Arizona, Peterson hinted he’s confident his future is in the desert.
“I think I’ll be here for a while,” Peterson told ESPN. “That’s a definite guarantee, I’ll be here for a while.”
“We’ll see,” Peterson said when asked if he deserves more money than Sherman received. “Got to ask the Cardinals. I mean, I think I am but at the end of the day both sides have to agree to terms and we’ll see what those terms are and hopefully sooner than later.”
