Cardinals GM: “We Are Not Trading Patrick Peterson”

“I don’t know why the questions persist,” Keim said via Darren Urban of the team website. “I have addressed it multiple times, last week or a couple of weeks ago — we are not trading Patrick Peterson. Our stance is simply been, why trade a player in his prime at one of the hardest positions to find, for a maybe or a couple of maybes (with draft picks).

“Love what Pat brings to the locker room, love what he brings to the field. Again, those positions are impossible to find — left tackles, quarterbacks, corners,” Keim continued. “There’s no doubt, in my opinion, he is the best in the National Football League and will remain a Cardinal.”

The Cardinals received inquiries regarding Peterson from three teams recently and six or seven others in the past year but have maintained they are not trading Peterson. 

Last year, Peterson requested a trade out of Arizona. He later apologized for making the request and the Cardinals have said he’s part of their long-term future. 

Back in July, Peterson said in an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio that he wants to be a “Cardinal for life.” 

“Yeah, I would love to be a Cardinal for life, but things happen,” Peterson said when asked if he was ready to remain in Arizona. “Hell, something could change next month. The things happen not only in football, but in the world in general. So, I would love to be a Cardinal for life. I would love to be one of those guys to bring this organization its first championship.”

Asked about the potential for Arizona to sign Peterson to a contract extension before his deal expires following the 2020 season, Keim demurred, saying he’s just looking forward to seeing Peterson return this year from his six-game suspension. 

Peterson, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2011. He’s currently in the fifth year of his seven-year, $83.02 million that included $48 million guaranteed and set to make base salaries of $11 million over the next two years of the agreement.

In 2018, Peterson appeared in all 16 games for the Cardinals and recorded 54 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and five pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 5 cornerback out of 112 qualifying players.