As hard as it is to make it to the NFL, it’s even harder to stay.

That’s true at every position, but especially at offensive and defensive skill positions like WR or CB.

So despite defying the odds and still playing at a solid level given his age and position, future Hall of Famer and Steelers DB Patrick Peterson is viewing his latest move as potentially his last:

CB Patrick Peterson Contemplates Full-Time Move to Safety
Following a knee injury that forced All-pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to miss the Bengals game, as well as a season-ending suspension of Damontae Kazee, Pittsburgh was down their top four safeties and had to pivot to Patrick Peterson to save their season.

Peterson not only survived but thrived, recording the first interception of his career at safety, while being a key cog in the Steelers’ halting of red-hot Bengals QB Jake Browning.

In his first career start at safety, future HOF CB Patrick Peterson picks off Jake Browning. #Steelers, #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/1cXXFTi9J1

— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) December 23, 2023

And while Pat Pete is likely to continue filling in for Fitzpatrick as Minkah’s status remains pessimistic, the future Hall of Famer isn’t ruling out a full-time position change come season end:

“I said this on my podcast yesterday, but I really feel like I’m a safety at heart, Peterson told the media on Thursday. “That’s really because I’m a communicator. I’m a big talker. Being at cornerback, it’s tough to communicate with guys because you’re on one side of the ball. But now being at the safety position, having that real key to keep communication to everyone, that felt very natural to me…

“…If I want to continue to play football, I think that is gonna be something that’s necessary for me, [Changing positions] But it’s gonna come down to me, and if I want to make that change, full-term.”

In my opinion, this is the most practical move for Peterson. He recently said he aims to play through 2025. He could probably play another two years at the outside corner, but he will be following in the wrong footsteps.

You see, we actually have a decent sample size when it comes to Hall of Famers who made the switch to safety, as opposed to those who stayed at corner.

Players like Rod Woodson, Ronnie Lott and Charles Woodson are all Hall of Famers who started at corner but switched to safety.

Sure their dominance tailed off towards the end of their career, but it was dissimilar to the sudden fall that players like Darrelle Revis and Champ Bailey experienced in their final seasons before Canton.

And for Peterson, he’s played better in a swiss army knife role as opposed to being locked at outside corner this season.

So the move is not only reasonable, it’s the right call for a generational talent.