National Football League

Cardinals in talks with Peterson about contract extension

Published Feb. 20, 2014 1:07 p.m. ET

Ross Jones

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Cardinals’ first priority this offseason was restructuring wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s deal to give the team some salary-cap flexibility. Once the team accomplished that, another move could be on the horizon.

Cornerback Patrick Peterson, who will enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2014, hasn’t spoken on the topic of a possible contract extension this offseason, but general manager Steve Keim was willing to shed some light on the situation Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Keim notes that they are interested in entertaining the idea of locking up the team’s franchise cornerback long term and have been in contact with Peterson’s representation.

“We have had a lot of good conversations between Joel [Segal] and myself,” Keim told FOXSports.com. “I expect them to be ongoing.

When asked if Keim projects Peterson to be the richest defensive player in the NFL after it's all said and done he said, "Well, that's a good question. We'll have to see. I’ll tell you this, we want to keep him around here for a long time.”

Peterson, who didn’t rule out the scenario of a holdout earlier this month, has been one of the most productive cornerbacks in the league making a Pro Bowl appearance in each of the past three years.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound cornerback has played in all 16 regular-season games the past three seasons since being selected No. 5 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.