The Minnesota Vikings are making moves this offseason, just not the ones that everyone predicted. While everyone has been focused on the pending future of Adrian Peterson, the Vikings made moves at the wide receiver position in order to build around Teddy Bridgewater. After taking on a high-priced contract this weekend and letting one go, where does Peterson stand in the moves?
The Minnesota Vikings confirmed they acquired wide receiver Mike Wallace in a trade for draft picks on Friday. The Miami Dolphins had been considering the move for months and finally pulled the trigger. After taking on the final two years of his high-priced contract, the Vikings had to make another move to relieve cap space. That came at the price of Greg Jennings who was informed of his release over the weekend according to NFL.com.
Jennings had been with the team for two years and had certainly done his part. However, the $8.9 million slated for the 31-year-old with an $11 million cap hit was simply too much to commit to someone that put up just 742 yards and six touchdowns in 2014. That leaves the Vikings' receiving corps to Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright, Cordarrelle Patterson and Wallace. They have Kyle Rudolph at the tight end position and a question mark at the running back spot.
There is really no telling what will happen with Peterson. According to ArizonaSports.com, the running back would like a trade to the Arizona Cardinals. The Dallas Cowboys are out after signing Darren McFadden. The Saints acquired CJ Spiller. The Oakland Raiders are equipped to take on Peterson's contract, but have shown no interest in striking a deal despite missing out on DeMarco Murray. That chances Peterson stays put appears to be pretty great.
The Vikings have said all of the right things to the media in terms of Peterson. The team has the power in the situation considering Peterson is still under contract with Minnesota. The team re-signed Matt Asiata as a potential Plan B and could easily draft someone if Peterson were to get traded. Getting Wallace's contract on the pay roll is certainly a burden with Peterson there as well. The Vikings will have to make some critical decisions.