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It's possible 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 could 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 of being dismissed by one of the principals. It's often nothing more than a negotiating tactic, something proclaimed in the interest of driving the price.
The Steelers should do what they can to pay that cost, expected to involve at least a first-round draft pick.
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It would be unusual, very much unprecedented, for the organization to make this part of a future important asset. A few years ago, though, it would have been unusual for you to have a training-camp trade for someone like a tight Vance McDonald, or to pony up for a player who had become a free agent during camp, as they did with Joe Haden's corner.
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, Steelers have spent their No. 1 on Jarvis Jones (17th overall), Ryan Shazier (15), Bud Dupree (22), Artie Burns (25), TJ Watt (30) and Terrell Edmunds (28). It's gotten to know what it's going to be like, Pittsburgh got two high-quality players (Shazier, Watt), one serviceable one (Dupree) and two flops.
Basically, this is a corner flip.
Peterson is a sure thing.
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Peterson, in his eighth NFL season, was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first seven days and named All-Pro three times. He has 23 career interceptions. Combined, the three Steelers trying (and mostly failing) to cover the corner Haden have seven.
Peterson also is a bargain. He will be one of the few, and he will be one of the 2019 No. 1 picks for 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 pretty easily replaced by 2017 third-round pick James Conner.
Since Chuck Noll's arrival in 1969, the Steelers, they have drafted some 63 players who reached at least one Pro Bowl. Only three of those – Rod Woodson, Mel Blount and Thomas J. – were cornerbacks. It has not been a position of strength.
Putting Peterson in a secondary with Haden would definitely 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 Sutton Cameron would find themselves in 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 93.7 The Fan. "Yes, to be completely honest with you," he said. "Absolutely."
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If this was 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. Peterson's goal would be a long enough to make it count.
The odds that they are drafting somebody with Peterson's level of talent and performance are not quite as long as those in the MegaMillions drawing.
If the Steelers want to hit the 2018 jackpot, though, this is the play.
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