Patrick Peterson knew it was a 'longshot' bringing Rashad Johnson back

The Arizona Cardinals recently saw safety Rashad Johnson depart form the team after seven seasons,signing a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.For All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson, it is tough to see him go, but he saw it coming.

Speaking with NBC Sports 1060's Ed Cole at his car show over the weekend, Peterson said he "definitely sad" to see Johnson leave, as he was "the last soldier" in the defensive backs room from his rookie year in 2011.

He was expecting change in the secondary, but he was surprised when he learned the Cardinals didn't make any effort to retain Johnson. Peterson saw the writing on the wall when Tyvon Branch signed a contract early in free agency,

"At first, when we made that move early in free agency, we definitely knew it was going to be a longshot of getting (Johnson) back," Peterson said. "Coach told me in the exit meeting that the defensive back room was going to look a little different (this coming season), so I knew it was going to be tough, but to know that they didn't offer him (any contract), that was kind of shocking and surprising."

But Peterson trusts his front office and coaches, although he knows it will be different in the locker room now, losing Johnson and also with the expected departure of Jerraud Powers.

"Conversations are going to be different now," Peterson said. "Now we have to get to know new faces, new names (and) new personalities. Now we have to get to know a whole new group, because it looks like we're going to lose Jerraud, too. We'll have to see what happens. I'm quite sure the guys we bring in (will be fine). Coach knows how to pick good players, good, down to earth locker room guys, so I'm quite sure it won't be hard getting to know the guys we bring in."