The Atlanta Falcons signed two veteran players last week who will be key parts of their defense this fall, but Bleacher Report’s scouting department doesn’t think they should stop there.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder argued Tuesday that the Falcons should now target three-time All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson.

“If there is one position Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot wants to address before the regular season, it is the second starting cornerback position on defense,” Holder wrote.

“Even though Peterson is long past his prime, he could be an improvement over Mike Hughes after outperforming him in coverage last season, 61.4 to 49.1, according to Pro Football Focus.”

Holder added that the 34-year-old expressed interest in playing for the Falcons last offseason before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

BR suggested Peterson as a target after the Falcons signed edge rusher Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons. The Falcons traded Judon from the New England Patriots on Wednesday and officially signed Simmons on Sunday.

Judon has 32 sacks in his last 38 games, while Simmons has been named to the All-Pro second team each of the last three years. Although Peterson has had an even better career than Judon and Simmons, the signing of Peterson should not be viewed as a move that could have a similar impact.

Peterson hasn’t made the All-Pro team since 2015 and hasn’t made the Pro Bowl since 2018. He struggled a lot with the Steelers last season, often finishing the year as a safety, which was a new position for him.

But he was also a reliable veteran with the Steelers. With Peterson as their best cornerback, the Steelers ranked eighth in turnovers in 2023.

The Falcons don’t need Peterson as their best cornerback. That job obviously belongs to AJ Terrell. But as a short-term solution, as Simmons and Judon potentially are (Judon is also a candidate for a contract extension), Peterson could be a backup to the starting lineup over Terrell.

Peterson is also versatile. He now has experience as a safety and could also play in the slot for the Falcons.