The Minnesota Vikings want to keep Adrian Peterson for the 2015 season, but his agent said that it may not be in the "best interests" of his client to remain in Minnesota and if a trade happens, teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins could be potential landing spots.
The Vikings have been open about wanting Peterson to return this season and so far the running back and the team have not been able to agree on how that will happen. According to ESPN.com, Peterson's agent Ben Dogra went public this week, saying that it's not in Peterson's "best interests" to remain in Minnesota. Last season Peterson played in one game before being placed on the exempt list and he later was suspended, but that suspension was overturned on appeal.
The Vikings have said they have no plans to release Peterson this offseason and Dogra's comments may be a way of hitting back at that. ESPN.com writes that Peterson could be "digging in", as the team may want him to take a pay cut from his position high cap number of $15 million. Peterson is making $12.75 million this season and has over $40 million left on his contract and that could make him tough to trade. The Vikings had a solid season last year without Peterson, but team officials have been public about wanting him to return.
Teddy Bridgewater appears to be the real deal and having Peterson makes the Vikings better, but he may not want to return. USA Today reports that Peterson's player rep met with the Vikings on Monday and there is a chance that the two sides could come together again after meeting earlier this offseason. Dogra declined a dinner invite from GM Rick Spielman and he could be trying to generate trade interest for his client.
According to the MMQB, the Arizona Cardinals are interested in Peterson, but they are not willing to take on the $45 million left on his deal. Peter King writes that the team is willing to trade a "high draft" pick, but that the money on the deal makes the trade a "non-starter" for now. The Cardinals are in desperate need of some RB help after ranking 31st in the league in rushing yards per game last season. Peterson is one of the most productive backs in football and he is coming off of a strong 2013 season when he had 1266 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The previous year Peterson had over 2000 yards. The Cowboys and Raiders have been mentioned as potential landing spots, but Dallas appears to be out of it after signing Darren McFadden, while Oakland picked up Trent Richardson.
The situation likely boils down to money and also that Peterson said he felt "betrayed" with the way he was placed on the exempt list last season. Sources told ESPN that Peterson felt ambushed by the team and that he had wanted to play while working out his legal case in Texas. Sources also said to ESPN.com that Peterson and people close to him felt the move by the league and the team was in response to the Ray Rice situation and that is why he was pushed aside so hastily.