NFL Trade Machine: Who Will Pursue Adrian Peterson?
By Erik Lambert
Adrian Peterson may be done with the Minnesota Vikings, which opens the door for a possible NFL trade. There will be arguments about whether the 29-year old deserves another chance given his child abuse allegations, but there is no question he remains one of the best running backs in pro football.
Given a cap number of $15.4 million in 2015, finding the right trade partner will be difficult, but it could save the Vikings from dealing with any dead money were they to cut him instead. So with that in mind, here are some possible landing spots for Peterson.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Denard Robinson is enjoying a nice run with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but is he realistically a true workhorse back long-term? That is an argument that could go either way. The fact is though that the Jaguars will enjoy $44 million in cap space next year, which makes a move for Peterson very possible. He and Robinson teaming together could take loads of pressure off Blake Bortles and take the offense to the next level.
Seattle Seahawks
No team loves picking up former Vikings quite like the Seattle Seahawks. They traded for Percy Harvin. They signed Tarvaris Jackson and Kevin Williams. For whatever reason Pete Carroll likes what Minnesota sees in its talent evaluation. Besides, Peterson may look really good next off-season because the signs continue to grow that the Seahawks have reached their end with Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch.
Indianapolis Colts
Trent Richardson has proven a bust for the Indianapolis Colts and Ahmad Bradshaw is aging and getting hurt more often. Andrew Luck is emerging as a superstar but he still needs a ground game in order to balance the offense and remain at his most effective. Can one imagine if the Colts just handed him Adrian Peterson? The entire landscape of the AFC would change in an instant.
Oakland Raiders
Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden haven’t been able to become what they were or could’ve been with the Oakland Raiders. Latavius Murray does look like a possible option but his injury issues continue to linger. The NFL would look at Peterson head there as classic Raiders philosophy: grabbing talented players with colorful backgrounds. He would instantly prove a benefit to Derek Carr and allow Reggie McKenzie to focus on finding receivers and more help for the defense in the draft.