Regardless of hypothesis, Vikings’ Patrick Peterson insists he gained’t be transferring to security – Twin Cities
So much for Patrick Peterson, who plays security for the Vikings.
There has been much speculation that the eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback would potentially take that seat in his eleventh season after the departure of free agent Anthony Harris. Peterson had said on a podcast before resigning himself to the Vikings last week that he would be open to a change of position and LeRoy Butler, former Green Bay security officer, said Peterson was “a fantastic security”.
But on Monday, after Peterson signed a one-year contract worth up to $ 10 million, he put an end to the speculation.
“I feel like I’m still in a good position to play cornerback, so I know I can still play at a high level,” said Peterson, who will turn 31 in July. “Well, my position will be cornerback for sure.”
The Vikings will continue their quest to replace Harris, who signed a $ 5 million one-year deal with Philadelphia last week after six seasons in Minnesota. He’s been the starter for the past two and a half years alongside five-time Pro Bowl selection Harrison Smith.
Besides Smith, Josh Metellus, who only played 16 defensive snaps as a rookie last year, Luther Kirk and Myles Dorn are the only safeguards on Minnesota’s squad. Kirk was on the training team as an unoccupied rookie in 2020 and was active for one game but did not play. Dorn spent the entire season as an unoccupied rookie in the injured reserve.
There are still plenty of good options for security in the free hand. Pro Football Focus released a list of the 100 best free agents still available at the time on Saturday and 11 collateral was included.
“It’s a traffic jam out there,” said an NFL source close to the process.
Jaquiski Tratt, ranked 39th overall by Pro Football Focus, agreed to sign again with San Francisco on Monday. But those still available are Kareem Jackson (No. 10), Xavier Woods (No. 12), Malik Hooker (No. 19), Tashaun Gipson (No. 45), Duron Harmon (No. 47), Tre Boston (No. 47) 50), Earl Thomas (No. 69), Bradley McDougal (No. 72), Ricardo Allen (No. 83) and Kenny Vaccaro (No. 87).
Even if the Vikings don’t get Peterson to safety to start the season, former Vikings star cornerback Carl Lee said it was a move that might make sense at some point.
“He’s smart enough about the game,” said Lee. “It wouldn’t be a bad move and it would definitely allow him to play an extra couple of years. But he’s a great soccer player who has so much knowledge no matter where he’s played. ”
BARR’S RESTRUCTURE
The Vikings have created an additional $ 5.6 million in salary caps in connection with Anthony Barr’s contract renewal.
The linebacker agreed to take a $ 2.9 million wage cut last week, and it will continue to do so. But instead of paying Barr a base salary of $ 9.4 million in 2021, he received a base of $ 1 million and a signing bonus of $ 8.4 million.
Although the new deal allows Barr to become a free agent after the 2021 season, it had two ineffective years on his contract. Only $ 2.8 million of his signing bonus will count towards the cap in 2021, with the rest going to the books later. OvertheCap.com website now has Barr’s 2021 cap of $ 6.107 million and its 2022 cap of $ 9.89 million, as all of the money left over would continue to flow this year due to the contract termination .
Taking into account Barr’s restructuring, the Vikings were listed on Monday by OvertheCap.com at $ 10,314,209 below the cap. That didn’t include wide receiver Chad Beebe agreeing to a one-year contract for $ 920,000 that will have minimal impact on the cap, and linebacker Nick Vigil with a cap of $ 1.734 million.
However, a source said the Vikings postponed the official signing of the vigil on Monday due to “team business”. Vigil agreed to the terms on March 15, and Minnesota announced two days later that it had agreed to the terms pending physical agreement.
The source said Vigil could sign later this week or maybe not for several weeks. The source saw no chance he wouldn’t join the team.
“He’s a Viking,” said the source.
Vigil is expected to sign a one-year contract that, with incentives, could be worth up to $ 2.284 million. Until it is officially signed, the Vikings will retain a $ 1.074 million cap spot as Vigil’s $ 1.734 million figure would oust a player in the top 51 salaries and earn $ 660,000.
Also on Monday, free agent linebacker Hardy Nickerson signed a one-year deal with Houston after playing for Minnesota last season. He was not seen as a candidate for re-signature.
PETERSON AND FITZGERALD
Peterson spoke fervently about being Larry Fitzgerald’s teammate with Arizona for the past 10 years.
“Larry is just an incredible professional,” said Peterson of the Minneapolis-born American who isn’t sure whether to play an 18th season. “I tell him all the time, I just thank him for helping me understand how to be a professional. ”
Now that Peterson is a seasoned veteran, he plans to mentor Minnesota’s many young players.
Peterson said he knows Viking recipient Justin Jefferson, who rookie the Pro Bowl last season since he was “10 or 11 years old”. Jefferson played at LSU a decade after Peterson’s stint with the Tigers and was a teammate of Jefferson’s brother Jordan.
Peterson also said the Minnesota recipient, Adam Thielen, is his “golf buddy”.
