Cardinals Hoping To Re-Sign CB Patrick Peterson & OLB Haason Reddick

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Cardinals are hoping to re-sign some of their notable defensive free agents including CB Patrick Peterson and OLB Haason Reddick this offseason even after signing J.J. Watt to a two-year, $31 million contract.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentions that the Watt signing likely impacts the Cardinals’ ability to retain Reddick. However, Arizona has reportedly expressed interest in re-signing him since their season ended.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill previously mentioned that they’re hoping to retain Peterson. 

Bidwill said he’s had several conversations with Peterson. However, he noted the expected drop in the 2021 salary cap is a complicating factor and players will have to work with the team, per Darren Urban.

There has been widespread speculation and one report that Arizona and Peterson will part ways this offseason. However, Peterson has denied that anything has been decided yet. 

“There is no real update,” Peterson said on his podcast, “All Things Covered,” regarding his contract status and future with the Cardinals. “It is just what you said it was: A dirty rumor. … Me and the team haven’t talked about contracts, we haven’t talked about parting ways. That’s just what it is, a dirty rumor. I don’t know where (the reporter) got his insight from, but that was a dirty rumor.”

“The things they were saying in the report, we knew it wasn’t true.”

Peterson, 30, is a former first-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2011. He just finished the final year of his seven-year, $83.02 million that included $48 million guaranteed and set to make a base salary of $12.5 million for the 2020 season. 

Peterson made a base salary of $12.5 million in 2020. He’s set to be an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason. 

In 2020, Peterson appeared in all 16 games for the Cardinals and recorded 61 tackles, three interceptions, and eight passes defended. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 83 cornerback out of 121 qualifying players. 

We have Peterson listed in our Top 100 2021 NFL Free Agents list.

Reddick, 26, is a former first-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2017. He’s entering the final year of his four-year, $13.47 million fully guaranteed contract when the Cardinals opted to decline his fifth-year option last year worth $10,089,000 for the 2021 season. 

Reddick is now in position to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time his NFL career. 

In 2020, Reddick appeared in all 16 games for the Cardinals and recorded 62 tackles, 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and four passes defended.