Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Corey Peters is expected to a sign a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals once free agency begins, according to multiple sources.
The deal is expected to be worth more than $3.5 million per season at maximum value.
At least six teams expressed interest in Peters during the free-agent negotiating period, but Arizona no doubt provides the best opportunity for him to start and play significant snaps.
Peters will be joining a defensive front in Arizona that has taken on a new look in the past couple of weeks. Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was released and then signed with the San Francisco 49ers, and free-agent nose tackle Dan Williams isn't expected to be re-signed, leaving Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell as the lone returning mainstay.
Also returning next season -- as of Monday night, at least -- will be veteran defensive tackle Frostee Rucker, defensive end Josh Mauro and second-year lineman Ed Stinson and Kareem Martin.
Peters has the type of versatility to thrive in any scheme, and the Cardinals run a 3-4 defense.
With the three-year contract, Peters, 26, also has a chance to earn himself an even bigger payday if he performs well and remains healthy with the Cardinals.
Last year, Peters was productive for the Falcons despite starting just two of the 15 games in which he played. He finished 2014 with 26 tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss and five quarterback hits in 511 defensive snaps. He entered last season on a one-year, $1.5 million contract after tearing his Achilles in the second-to-last game of the 2013 season.
Peters, with 11 career sacks, would have been a nice luxury for new Falcons coach Dan Quinn's defensive system as an added pass-rusher. Now, the team will proceed with guys such as Jonathan Babineaux, Ra'Shede Hageman, Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson comprising the bulkier linemen up front.
While the Falcons are set to lose Peters, they did retain one of their own. Backup quarterback T.J. Yates told ESPN.com he will remain with the team. It's a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, as reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan.
ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss contributed to this report.