It is possible even the very notion of the Steelers trading for Patrick Peterson is a fantasy. Although it has been reported the cornerback wants to leave the Cardinals "desperately," he might not be on the market for Pittsburgh, or anyone.
"We are not trading Patrick," Cardinals coach Steve Wilks told the media. "That's out of the question."
Yeah, but maybe it’s not. Lots of deals in sports are consummated after the possibility initially is dismissed by one of the principals. It’s often nothing more than a negotiating tactic, something proclaimed in the interest of driving up the price.
The Steelers should do what they can to pay that cost, expected to involve at least a first-round draft pick.
MORE: Why big NFL trades are so rare
It would be unusual, pretty much unprecedented, for the organization to make this sort of move this deep into the season and to part with such an important future asset. A few years ago, though, it would have been unusual for them to execute a training-camp trade for someone like tight end Vance McDonald, or to pony up big for a player who had become a free agent during camp, as they did with corner Joe Haden.
If a deal for Peterson would start with a first-round pick, how much of a chance would the team be taking in trading one away? In the past half-dozen years, the Steelers have spent their No. 1s on Jarvis Jones (17th overall), Ryan Shazier (15), Bud Dupree (22), Artie Burns (25), T.J. Watt (30) and Terrell Edmunds (28). It is too early to tell with Edmunds what sort of player he will become, but of the other five, Pittsburgh got two high-quality players (Shazier, Watt), one serviceable one (Dupree) and two flops.
Basically, this is a coin flip.
Peterson is a sure thing.
MORE: Latest NFL trade rumors, news
Peterson, in his eighth NFL season, was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first seven and has been named All-Pro three times. He has 23 career interceptions. Combined, the three Steelers trying (and mostly failing) to cover the corner opposite Haden have seven.
Peterson also is a bargain. He is signed for two more years past this one, which means he can be with the team half as long as the 2019 No. 1 pick would be under a rookie deal. His salary for those two seasons: $11 million and $12.05 million. That’s far less money than the team was willing to invest in Le’Veon Bell, a running back who has been fairly easily replaced by 2017 third-round pick James Conner.
Since Chuck Noll’s arrival in 1969 transformed the Steelers, they have drafted or signed as college free agents 63 players who reached at least one Pro Bowl. Only three of those — Rod Woodson, Mel Blount and J.T. Thomas — were cornerbacks. It has not been a position of strength.
Putting Peterson in a secondary with Haden quite possibly would give the Steelers the strongest set of corners in the league. Haden has been playing at a Pro Bowl level, holding down superstar wideouts Julio Jones (five catches, 62 yards) and A.J. Green (seven catches, 85 yards) in the past two games. Neither receiver scored. Teams that have been picking on Burns, in particular, and Coty Sensabaugh and Cameron Sutton would find themselves without much comfort upon taking to the air.
The Steelers themselves know this is the right move.
Not the front office. The players.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown tweeted his endorsement of a trade with just two words “Automatic chip” and a series of emojis indicating his enthusiasm.
Left guard Ramon Foster was asked if he’d like to see Peterson as a Steeler during his weekly morning spot on 93.7 The Fan. "Yes, to be completely honest with you," he said. "Absolutely."
WEEK 8 NFL PICKS:
Against the spread | Straight up
If this were a player who would be arriving in October and departing in January, or even February, it would make no sense for the team to sacrifice a first-round pick and maybe a third or fourth along with it. But Peterson would be a Steeler long enough to make it count.
The odds that they'd draft someone with Peterson's level of talent and performance aren't quite as long as those in the MegaMillions drawing.
If the Steelers want to hit the 2018 jackpot, though, this is the play.
