Former LSU star Patrick Peterson makes free agency decision

Former LSU star Patrick Peterson announced where he would be signing his next contract with, bringing an end to his free agency search. The 11-year veteran cornerback will return to the Minnesota Vikings for another season on a one-year deal, announcing the decision himself via his podcast. Peterson played the first ten seasons of his career with Arizona after being drafted by the Cardinals from LSU in the 2011 NFL Draft, and joined Minnesota last year on a one-year contract worth $10 million.

Patrick Peterson decides on Minnesota in free agency

“Pro-Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson is returning to Minnesota on a one-year contract, he announced,” stated ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “Peterson had said on his podcast that he wanted to re-sign with the Vikings.”

While contract details were not immediately available regarding his new deal, Peterson’s previous deal with the Vikings was worth $10 million. The veteran started 13 games for Minnesota last year, totaling 45 tackles and recording one interception that he returned for a touchdown. Peterson’s interception last season gave him at least one interception in every season since he joined the NFL.

Minnesota has used their offseason to largely re-load their team from last season for another run. The largest story they faced early on was their head coaching vacancy, which appeared to be a decision that could have been former NFL coach and current Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh. Rumors circled at the final hour of their decision that Harbaugh was accepting the job and preparing to meet with the Vikings as a formality, when immediately it was discovered that Minnesota was not prepared to offer Harbaugh the job.

As a result, Minnesota hired former Los Angeles Rams coordinator Kevin O’Connell in a hire that has given Vikings fans plenty of excitement. The Vikings also brought back quarterback Kirk Cousins on a contract extension for one year with $35 million in guaranteed money. Cousins finished the 2021 season with a completion rate of 66.3 percent and threw for 4,221 yards and 33 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.