The Minnesota Vikings are coming into a big season and there is a chance in the future that a trade with Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder could be coming if the team needs to rebuild over the next two years and if Teddy Bridgewater is starting over Matt Cassel it likely means a rebuild is in progress for new head coach Mike Zimmer and coordinator Norv Turner.
The Vikings obviously do not want to get into any situation where they have to think about trading Peterson, but as Mike Freeman for Bleacher Report wrote after the draft, it's likely where Minnesota is headed in the future. Last season trade rumors involving Peterson came up because the team was struggling to a 5-10-1 finish and while that never got serious, the columnist who brought it up made a number of good points and some match what Freeman said. Basically Freeman writes that the running back position is getting devalued and with Peterson making so much money, it's a match that will not last.
Peterson is nearing 30 and while he has been great over the past few years, it's the age that most running backs start to break down and with a young QB coming in to work behind Matt Cassel, Peterson may not be long for Minnesota. The team is heading outside for two years so that actually could be good for his workload, but as Freeman also points out, the Vikings now likely will use more two back rotations with Turner's offense and that is another limitation on Peterson. The team can only invest so much money in a position that is going down in value for the team and while he may still be productive, it may not make sense in a year or two. Freeman writes that it may not happen this season, but that the split is coming.
The Vikings also have an interesting decision to make on Ponder, as they have said in the past that they value him as a quarterback, but clearly not as a starter anymore. The team used him last season with Matt Cassel and he was not very good and that is why the team declined to pick up his fifth year option. Turner has said that he likes Ponder in his offense and Zimmer has said that all three quarterbacks are going to compete this offseason heading into camp. Bridgewater was prolific in college and now he comes in after being the number 32 pick in the first round of the draft this season.
The Vikings are coming into the season after going 5-10-1 last year and now they have a new head coach looking to put his mark on the team and he is hoping to turn things around in 2014. Last season the team ranked 23rd in passing yards per game with Cassel and Ponder splitting time and now Bridgewater will get a shot as well, but he likely will not start unless Cassel gets injured. The Vikings want to keep Ponder as a backup since he is more experience than Bridgewater and while Teddy will be the QB of the future, right now how may not be ready for an immediate backup position.
