Until the first week of the NFL season arrives, the Dallas Cowboys will be linked to a trade for Adrian Peterson. The Minnesota Vikings running back has made it clear he wants to remain in Texas, but after no team offered up their first-round draft pick for the veteran, Peterson appeared to be remaining on his current team. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided to stir the pot once more and hint that a deal is still an option heading into the new season.
According to Jones via KRLD-FM in Dallas, the Cowboys would be open to trading their 2016 first-round draft pick for either a defensive talent or game-changing running back. This is where Peterson comes into play once more. The Cowboys have the salary cap space to sign the running back and they have the need. If there is any doubt in the current roster, making the move would be the best option.
"I'd be reluctant to, but certainly if the right situation came along that could improve us now, with where we are with (35-year-old quarterback) Tony Romo, his career and where we are with what we've put together, it's a good time to go for it," Jones said, per Fox Sports Southwest.
The Vikings have taken the stance that Peterson is not available. However, the Pioneer Press had been reporting that the asking price for Peterson was a first-round draft pick which is why no deals were made in the end. The Vikings did not draft a running back which means they believe Peterson is returning. If the veteran continues his holdout, they might have no choice but to trade Peterson.
With the extra cap space, Dez Bryant might be hoping that Peterson is not acquired and the Cowboys use that extra cap space to sign him to the long-term deal he has been wanting. However, according to team vice president Stephen Jones, that is not happening regardless of Peterson. Jones made it clear that there are a lot of issues regarding the contract negotiations with Bryant and Dallas is content with waiting for the market to set before they give out a new contract. Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas and AJ Green all need new deals and their respective teams are waiting to see who signs for first.
"No one has been able to really figure out what they think the market should be," Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News. "I think ultimately we'll get this done. No one wants to have Dez long term involved with the Dallas Cowboys more so than our organization, Jerry and myself. Our goal is to get it done, get it done long term, so we can move forward and let Dez continue to make all the great plays he's made up until this point."