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Contract Details: Armstead, MVS, Douglas, Peterson, Peppers, Butler, Barnett, Harris

March 31st, 2022 at 5:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from contracts recently agreed to around the NFL:

Terron Armstead, T (Dolphins): Five years, $75MM. In addition to a $12MM signing bonus, Armstead’s $43.37MM guarantee includes his 2022 and ’23 base salaries ($1.1MM, $9MM), Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Armstead’s $13.25MM 2024 base salary is guaranteed for injury at signing. The deal includes $2.5MM-per-year incentives for playing time and Pro Bowl accolades, Wilson adds (on Twitter).
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR (Chiefs): Three years, $30MM. Valdes-Scantling’s $18MM guaranteed includes a $6MM signing bonus and a fully guaranteed 2022 base salary ($2.56MM), Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. The Chiefs have some flexibility in 2023. MVS has $6.4MM of his $8.6MM 2023 salary guaranteed for injury at signing; that shifts to a full guarantee if the wideout is on Kansas City’s roster on Day 3 of the 2023 league year. Valdes-Scantling’s $11.6MM 2024 base is nonguaranteed.
Rasul Douglas, CB (Packers): Three years, $21MM. The Packers gave Douglas a $5.3MM signing bonus and have him tied to base salaries of $1.1MM, $2.25MM and $6.25MM, Wilson tweets. Douglas will collect a $2MM roster bonus if he is on Green Bay’s roster on Day 3 of the 2023 league year.
Derek Barnett, DE (Eagles): Two years, $13.2MM. Barnett will see $7MM fully guaranteed, which includes $5.5MM in Year 1 and $1.5MM in Year 2, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes (Twitter links). The Eagles guaranteed $1.5MM of Barnett’s 2023 salary and will guarantee $2MM more of that $7.5MM figure if he is on their roster on Day 3 of the 2023 league year. There are $9MM in incentives available, Wilson tweets.
Malcolm Butler, CB (Patriots): Two years, $9MM. The Patriots only guaranteed the recently unretired cornerback $750K, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. That comes via a $500K signing bonus and a $250K guarantee of Butler’s 2022 base salary. Butler’s cap numbers check in at $2.22MM and $2.75MM.
Patrick Peterson, CB (Vikings): One year, $4MM. In addition to the $3.5MM guaranteed Peterson will collect, Wilson notes the Vikings included $1MM in playing-time and playoff incentives (Twitter link). The team tacked a void year onto the deal.
Anthony Harris, S (Eagles): One year, $2.5MM. The Eagles are guaranteeing $1MM of Harris’ $2MM base salary, Wilson tweets.
Jabrill Peppers, S (Patriots): One year, $2MM. The Patriots are giving Peppers a $300K signing bonus and guaranteeing his $1.1MM base salary, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The deal includes $3MM in playing-time incentives.

Vikings To Re-Sign Patrick Peterson

March 30th, 2022 at 5:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Vikings have changed GMs and coaching staffs, Patrick Peterson will return for a second season in Minnesota.

The All-Decade cornerback said during an appearance on the All Things Covered podcast (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero) he is re-signing with the Vikings on a one-year deal. The deal is worth $4MM, including $3.5MM in guaranteed money, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Twitter). This will be Peterson’s 12th NFL season.

Minnesota gave the former Arizona star corner a one-year, $8MM deal in 2021. New GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah praised the Mike Zimmer-era signing recently, and the eight-time Pro Bowler will aim to make an impact in new DC Ed Donatell‘s system. Peterson, who will turn 32 this summer, played 13 games with the Vikings last season. A few other teams — the Bills, Bears, Colts and Commanders — also expressed interest, Peterson said (via the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson; Twitter links).

After regressing toward the end of his Cardinals tenure, which featured a 2019 PED suspension, the former top-five pick performed better in his first Vikes campaign. Peterson allowed a 67% completion rate as the nearest defender in coverage in 2020; he dropped that number to 56% last season. Peterson’s passer rating-against figure also dropped considerably (98.2 to 78.7) in that span. While the 6-foot-1 cover man is not the player he was at his peak, he remains a capable starter.

The Vikings waived Bashaud Breeland late last season; he ended the season with the Cards. Former Minnesota first-round corner Jeff Gladney is also with Arizona, having signed with the NFC West squad this offseason. Minnesota returns Cameron Dantzler, who started seven games last year, and signed slot defender Chandon Sullivan from Green Bay. The Vikings also added potential depth pieces in Nate Hairston and Tye Smith this week. Even with Peterson’s return, the Vikings still have a need at the position. Peterson expects the team to further address cornerback in the draft (Twitter link via Tomasson).

Latest On Vikings’ Patrick Peterson, Anthony Barr

March 24th, 2022 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

The top two remaining free agents the Vikings have are cornerback Patrick Peterson and linebacker Anthony Barr. According to Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press, the former is more likely to remain in Minnesota than the latter.

As Tomasson notes, Peterson has spoken often about wanting to remain with the team. The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $8MM deal last offseason after a decade with the Cardinals. His level of play – 45 tackles and one interception in 13 games – led to a PFF grade of 63. That is a long way from the All-Pro standard he set during his time in Arizona, but it could be enough to earn him an extended stay in his new home.

“Pat Pete’s a great person, a great player in this league for a long time”, said general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. “You want to make sure you respect a player of his caliber, his expertise in this league, but also the reality of the situation we’re in from a salary-cap standpoint.”

As for Barr, 30, Tomasson notes that the acquisition of Za’Darius Smith could lead him elsewhere. Between Smith and Danielle Hunter – whom the team could be looking to extend, rather than trade, as once thought – the Vikings appear to be set at the OLB spot in their new 3-4 scheme. The four-time Pro Bowler has been with the team since 2014, but has missed 20 games over the past two seasons. A new contract would be complicated by the fact he already carries of dead money cap charge of $10.8MM.

“That’s going to be a tougher situation to navigate”, Adofo-Mensah said of Barr. “Never say never. Obviously, there are things salary-cap related with acceleration and things like that that made that kind of a challenging deal.”

At present, the Vikings likely have enough cap room to afford bringing back one, but not both, of Peterson and Barr. From a positional standpoint, the former has a clearer path to being a starter, which explains the team’s openness to a new contract. If that does come to fruition, Barr could very well be in Peterson’s position from one year ago, needing to find a new team after several high-quality years with the one that drafted him.

Vikings Place Patrick Peterson On Reserve/COVID-19 List

November 29th, 2021 at 3:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings announced that they have placed Patrick Peterson on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. As a result, the cornerback may be withheld from this Sunday’s game against the Lions.

Peterson already missed a huge chunk of the season with a hamstring injury. He returned to action in Week 11 to face the Packers and suited up on Sunday in San Francisco, playing on all 70 of Minnesota’s defensive snaps.

In theory, the All-Decade cornerback can still play this week, provided that he is vaccinated, asymptomatic, and able to pass two COVID-19 tests. If he’s unvaccinated, he’ll be required to spent at least ten days in isolation.

P2 declined a bit towards the end of his Arizona tenure, but he’s fared better in Minnesota so far. The eight-time Pro Bowler has allowed a ~60% completion rate in coverage, much improved from his 67% figure of 2020.

Peterson will hope for a quick return to help lift the Vikings’ playoff chances. And, even if the Vikings fall out of the race, the veteran could use the rest of the slate as a platform for his next deal. P2 is slated for free agency in March, following the expiration of his one-year, $8MM deal.

Vikings Activate Patrick Peterson From IR

November 20th, 2021 at 3:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Minnesota’s two highest-profile secondary cogs will be back for the team’s latest Aaron Rodgers matchup. After the Vikings moved Harrison Smith off the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, they activated Patrick Peterson.

Both Smith and Peterson had missed the past two games, with Peterson being down for the past three due to the current IR rule. But the All-Decade cornerback healed from his hamstring malady in short time and will return in time for his first Vikings-Packers matchup.

After multiple down years to close his Arizona tenure, Peterson has fared better in Minnesota. The eight-time Pro Bowler has allowed a 59% completion rate in coverage, way down from the 67% figure of 2020. His return stands to aid a Vikings pass defense against the reigning MVP.

The Vikings gave Peterson a one-year, $8MM deal in March, ending his 10-season stay with the Cardinals. With the Vikes releasing 2020 first-round pick Jeff Gladney, after his offseason arrest, Peterson joined Mackensie Alexander as key veteran support. After ranking 25th in pass defense last season, the Vikings sit 14th through nine games.

Vikings Designate Patrick Peterson For Return, Activate Harrison Smith

November 17th, 2021 at 10:48am CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings have been playing without their secondary anchors for a bit, but both Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson are on track to suit up again soon.

Minnesota activated Smith from its reserve/COVID-19 list and designated Peterson for return Wednesday. Peterson went on IR with a hamstring injury Oct. 18. Should he return Sunday against the Packers, it will mark a minimum three-game absence for the decorated cornerback. Minnesota has 21 days to activate Peterson.

Smith missed two games after contracting the coronavirus, ending a four-season stretch without a multigame absence. But the five-time Pro Bowl safety will be back in uniform for the Vikings’ pivotal divisional matchup in Week 11. Pro Football Focus has graded Smith as a top-20 safety this season, bestowing such a distinction on offseason addition Xavier Woods as well.

After multiple down years to close his Arizona tenure, Peterson has fared better in Minnesota. The All-Decade corner has allowed a 59% completion rate in coverage, way down from the 67% figure of 2020. The veterans’ returns stand to aid a Vikings pass defense that ranks 14th through nine games.

Vikings Place Patrick Peterson On IR

October 18th, 2021 at 3:18pm CST by Zachary Links

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters that Patrick Peterson will be placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Fortunately, it’s not believed to be a season-ender, so the cornerback could return in as little as three weeks, per league rules.

Peterson joined the Vikes on a one-year, $8MM deal in March, choosing Minnesota over the incumbent Cardinals and other NFC clubs like the Cowboys, 49ers and Eagles. Through six games, the 31-year-old has tallied 13 stops and two passes defensed for his new club.

“I was just frustrated and upset at how [Cardinals] upper management handled the situation,” Peterson said earlier this year. “You tell me one thing, then when it’s time to talk, you turn your shoulder on me like it’s cold shoulder. I’ve been in this league a long time. Thirty years old. Grown man. Talk to me like a grown man, not like a child or your side piece.”

So far, things are going well for P2 in Minnesota. Still, he’ll have to rest up for a while before getting back to business.

Patrick Peterson Addresses Cardinals Exit

August 12th, 2021 at 3:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Patrick Peterson joined the Vikings on a one-year, $8MM deal on the second day of this year’s legal tampering period. This agreement, however, came after discussions with the Cardinals and a few other NFC teams.

The Cowboys, 49ers and Eagles each discussed deals with the former All-Pro cornerback, Dan Pompei of The Athletic reports (subscription required), noting Dallas and San Francisco made early pushes to add the veteran. This came after Peterson’s talks with the Cardinals ceased.

The 31-year-old corner said Cardinals GM Steve Keim communicated to him at his 2020 exit interview a desire for him to stay in Arizona, and Peterson said the Cards continued to tell him they wanted him back in February. Michael Bidwill said as much publicly at that point, but that is the last we heard on a Peterson return to the desert. That appears to be the last Peterson heard on the topic as well.

“I was just frustrated and upset at how upper management handled the situation,” Peterson said, via Pompei. “You tell me one thing, then when it’s time to talk, you turn your shoulder on me like it’s cold shoulder. I’ve been in this league a long time. Thirty years old. Grown man. Talk to me like a grown man, not like a child or your side piece.”

Peterson’s Vikings pact came to be after he instructed his agent to call Mike Zimmer, per Pompei. The All-Decade defender, like many around the league who agreed to one-year deals, hopes to cash in when the cap spikes in 2022. Peterson said Keim did reach out after news of his Vikings agreement surfaced, but the irked cornerback did not respond to the GM’s text message.

“I’m willing to bet on myself for this season knowing the salary cap is going to go back up, and I can have opportunities to come back to the table and get more than what I got this year,” Peterson said.

It is unlikely the other NFC teams pursuing Peterson were offering too much, given his recent play. The Cowboys ended up drafting corners in the second and third rounds, while the 49ers did not make a notable outside hire here this year. The Eagles waited a while but signed Steven Nelson on a low-cost deal. An agreement with Titans cap casualty Malcolm Butler became the Cardinals’ main post-Peterson cornerback move.

Peterson’s string of Pro Bowls stopped at eight, with a six-game PED suspension in 2019 stalling his momentum. The LSU product’s coverage numbers dropped noticeably from 2018 to 2019, and Pro Football Focus graded him 83rd among corners in 2020. Peterson will attempt to re-route his career in Minnesota.

Vikings Sign CB Patrick Peterson

March 17th, 2021 at 7:37pm CST by Rory Parks

Patrick Peterson is moving on from Arizona. The Vikings have agreed to a one-year, $10MM deal with the decorated cornerback, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter).

Now 30 (31 in July), Peterson is one of the most accomplished defenders in Cardinals history and is a member of the Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2010s. He is not, however, the player he once was. He was hit with a six-game PED suspension to start the 2019 campaign, and after Pro Football Focus graded Peterson fifth among corners in 2018, he slipped to 41st in ’19 and 83rd in ’20. Quarterbacks throwing in Peterson’s direction last season collectively completed passes at a 67% clip — nearly 10 points higher than they did in 2018.

But he did pick off three passes in 2020, to go along with eight passes defensed. He has also been tremendously durable throughout his 10-year career, as the only games he has missed were due to the aforementioned suspension.

He joins a young CB room that had been fronted by a trio of recent early-round picks. Unlike Peterson, 2018 first-rounder Mike Hughes has not been able to stay healthy and has only suited up for 24 of a possible 48 regular season games in his pro career, while 2020 first-rounder Jeff Gladney struggled a bit in his rookie campaign. Cameron Dantzler, a third-round choice last year, played reasonably well as a rookie, but the group definitely needed a veteran influence like Peterson, an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro.

Minnesota did have an offer out to Mackensie Alexander, but the Peterson signing could foreclose the possibility of an Alexander-Vikings reunion.

Latest On Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson

February 19th, 2021 at 6:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two of the best players in Cardinals history are set for free agency in March. While the Cardinals do not have to worry about Larry Fitzgerald defecting to another team, with the future Hall of Famer indicating he would only play for the Cards, Patrick Peterson could leave after 10 seasons in Arizona.

After Michael Bidwill indicated the Cardinals would like to bring back Peterson, GM Steve Keim confirmed he has spoken with the eight-time Pro Bowler this offseason, according to the Arizona Republic’s Bob McManamon.

Keim stopped short of saying he would like to extend Peterson before he hits the market, citing the salary cap uncertainty as a key reason he did not have a clear idea of the All-Decade defender’s place with the 2021 Cardinals.

Peterson’s play over the past two years has not measured up to his Pro Bowl-level work, and he will turn 31 this year. The Cardinals, however, also have Dre Kirkpatrick set for free agency and have seen Robert Alford miss two full seasons since he signed with Arizona in 2019. The team has a considerable need at cornerback.

The Cardinals are respecting Fitzgerald’s timeline. Keim has not spoken to Fitz this offseason, per McManamon. Like he has for the past few seasons, Fitzgerald is taking time to determine whether he wants to return. The 37-year-old wideout has indicated only a championship will matter for him going forward.

Fitz saw his production tumble in 2020. Although the 17-year veteran missed three games, his 31.5 yards per game represented a career-low figure — by a wide margin. After making $11MM last year, Fitz would almost certainly need to agree to a lower-cost deal if he were to return for an 18th season. Arizona has DeAndre Hopkins signed long-term, but Christian Kirk is going into a contract year after an inconsistent three-season run.