When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed cornerback Patrick Peterson in free agency, there was an assumption he would take over the CB #1 spot. 

Then came some ideology about a potential move to safety with some corner mixed in.

But following OTA's this week, Peterson may be gearing up to play a position completely foreign to him:

While it may only be May, (otherwise known as experimentation season) Patrick Peterson has been finding himself playing closer to the ball in OTA's, embracing the challenge that is the slot corner, or nickel position. 

I’m moving around a little bit throughout practice,” Peterson told Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. “We’ve definitely dabbled with the idea (slot corner). I’m loving it so far, but we’re just going to see how far Coach wants to take it.”

Dating back to his high school days in South Florida, Peterson has been an outside corner every step of the way. His lockdown presence carried over to LSU, where he parlayed his college career into being a top-five pick for the Arizona Cardinals. 

Somehow, the game only seemed to get easier for Peterson, as he made the Pro Bowl for eight straight seasons to start his career. The future Hall of Famer is not afraid of making adjustments and his ability to adapt is a catalyst for his performance at this stage of his career:

"Having the opportunity to backpedal and see him (opposing QB) set up and give me a better indication of when the ball was coming, nine times out of 10, I’m going to come out with it because now I have the opportunity to track the ball the entire way," Peterson told reporters in regards to his change to a heavy zone scheme when in Minnesota. 

And while the Steelers may not want to change their entire scheme for one player, Peterson is happy to learn on the fly, even embracing what many would wrongly view as a demotion:

“Honestly, to me, I feel like the inside guy is the most protected because you’re closer to the linebackers. You got help from the safety,” Peterson told DeFabo. “So you’re basically just playing to your leveraging, just funneling the receiver to where you’re not covering. So for the most part, just understand where your help is."

And while many wouldn't want to admit they need "help" as a corner, Peterson's lack of ego is the reason why a soon-to-be 33-year-old corner is coming off one of his best statistical seasons to date: 

“It’s no secret. I’m not 28 years old anymore,” Peterson told reporters. “I’m going to be 33 here in July. … I can’t run behind these young receivers down in and down out. It’s all about putting me in the right position, teammates, and mixing and matching coverages to make it hard for opposing offenses.”

And that's likely what the Steelers will do. Peterson may not be the island corner he once was, but his years of experience and football intelligence have unlocked a new skill:

Versatility.

Now it's just time to see how it unfolds. 

Featured image via: © Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports