5 former players the Vikings badly miss in 2023

Former Vikings player No. 2

Patrick Peterson, cornerback

A more aggressive pass defense has helped the Minnesota Vikings this season, but having a veteran leader like Patrick Peterson in the secondary is something that is extremely difficult to replace in one offseason.

Harrison Smith likely has that veteran leadership role this year, but it's hard to know how much longer he will wear a purple and gold jersey before he hangs up his cleats for good and retires from the sport of football.

Last season, Patrick Peterson had 66 combined tackles and five interceptions. So far this season, the Vikings only have one interception through two games, the sole pick belonging to safety Theo Jackson.

It never hurts to have extra depth and experience at cornerback, which is why Patrick Peterson could be an asset to a team full of new faces and young players at the position. And it would have been interesting to see him in the more aggressive scheme.