Steelers to Play Patrick Peterson at Safety?
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have Damontae Kazee signed for the next two seasons, and after a successful first year as the team's third safety, head coach Mike Tomlin might be looking to see him in that role again in 2023.
After losing Terrell Edmunds to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency, the Steelers are moving forward with Kazee and Minkah Fitzpatrick as their two primary safeties. But Tomlin might have an alternative name to add to the list.
Speaking at the league meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, Tomlin told reports that he and Patrick Peterson have discussed playing safety this season.
"He’s versatile, not only in terms of his talents but his intellect," Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We’re not going to be bashful about moving him around. He’s excited about the prospects of that."
The 13-year NFL veteran said during his introductory press conference that he's hoping to move around within the secondary, and might now be an option to drop back to safety.
"I think having an opportunity to see the ball. Early in my career, I was just, like I talked about, solely a man [coverage] guy," Peterson said about moving around. "Being in the receiver’s face, disrupting the timing of the receiver and the quarterback at the line of scrimmage. Like I said, I can do it all. I haven't been in the league for 13 years just because I was good at one thing. I was just really good at that and that's all they wanted me to do. I can play whatever is asked of me."
Tomlin also said the team plans to add another safety through free agency or the NFL Draft. Many names, such as Alabama's Brian Branch, have been linked to Pittsburgh in recent mock drafts, and that trend is likely to continue after Tomlin's comments on the position.
"It’s in development," Tomlin said. "We’re going to add to that bunch, certainly. By what means is to be determined, but there are some credible candidates out there in both (the free agency and draft) pools."
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