Patrick Peterson says QB Kirk Cousins would be a perfect match with Cardinals

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cardinals need a quarterback and Kirk Cousins is going to hit the market in March. To Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, it’s a perfect match.

“We’ve got everything he would need for a quarterback to be successful,” Peterson said on Thursday while making the rounds at radio row in the Super Bowl LII media center. “We’ve got a pretty solid defense, talent all across the board on offense, nice running game that can complement him. He’s a damn good quarterback, he just needs pieces to help him be successful.”

Earlier this week, the Chiefs and Redskins agreed to a trade that would send quarterback Alex Smith from Kansas City to Washington. Smith will sign a four-year deal, and Cousins, the Redskins starter, will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time.

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“He can make every throw that you need a quarterback to make,” Peterson said.

Peterson has played against Cousins three times and intercepted a pass in the Cardinals’ victory in 2016.

Acquiring Cousins won’t be cheap. He’s expected to command a deal worth at least $25 million a year.

“Yeah, that’s tough but we’ll see what happens,” Peterson said.

Peterson on ESPN's First Take

Peterson joined ESPN's First Take Thursday morning and shared some of the same thoughts on Cousins and the Cardinals.

When asked by host Stephen A. Smith if Arizona should pursue Cousins as its quarterback, Peterson replied: "Why not, I believe Kirk can definitely get us over the top. He'll be in warm weather, playing on one of the best turfs in the NFL. He'll have some great talent around him, running game, receivers, tight end, you name it. We have everything that he needs to be successful."

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The team does not have a quarterback under contract for the 2018 season.

Several teams are expected to compete for Cousins' services, with the Broncos, Jets and Browns among those possibly joining the Cardinals.

The Cardinals could also look to address their need at quarterback through the draft. They have the No. 15 pick in the first round.

Peterson shared his thoughts on the state of the position for the team with Smith.

"I'm excited about Steve Wilks and obviously disappointed that we haven't been able to make the playoffs in the last couple of years," Peterson said, "but you know you need consistent quarterback play out of that position and that position has kind of been hurting for us with Carson (Palmer) missing a couple of games, Drew (Stanton) missing a couple of games, having to play with Blaine (Gabbert) for a couple of games ... so the quarterback situation has been kind of tough for us.

"As of right now I do not know who our quarterback is going to be."

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