The Minnesota Vikings want to build their team around Teddy Bridgewater after the rookie showed great promise for a success future in 2014. The Vikings had been struggling with quarterback consistency thanks to Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel, but Bridgewater appears to be the answer for the team moving forward. Now the priority is putting players around him to succeed which could be the hard part.
The Vikings' offense is in a bit of a holding pattern as they await the future of Adrian Peterson. Everyone in the Vikings' front office has stressed they want to see the running back return to the team following his NFL suspension. Peterson has made no guarantees what his future will look like, but says the Minnesota fanbase has been nothing but supportive moving forward. The issue is Peterson's contract.
Prior to the suspension, Peterson was facing trade rumors simply because of his high salary cap hit. The running back will be a $15 million cap hit the next two seasons before ballooning to a $17 million cap hit in 2017. The Vikings simply cannot take on that kind of money for an aging running back, but have made no hints that they will release him. Head coach Mike Zimmer continues to stress that Peterson is an important part of the offense and they want him around.
So who is the cap casualty in order to improve? ESPN.com predicts that Greg Jennings could be drawing the shortest straw come March. The wide receiver led the offense in 2014, but just put up north of 700 receiving yards. He will be an $11 million hit next season which makes him the prime target to get released come the official offseason. Yes, the Vikings need Jennings because of Cordarrelle Patterson's struggles, but the team could aim to make a trade this offseason and acquire someone else.
Peterson's contract hurts any potential trades for players like Larry Fitzgerald or Mike Wallace. Both receivers come with equally high cap hits and while they might be better than Jennings, they are still a tax burden. The Vikings could look to free agency and a player like Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith or Michael Crabtree and negotiate a deal that will be easier to handle.
Getting another top wide receiver is key for Minnesota and Bridgewater's success. Until the team decides what they are doing with Peterson and his contract, they cannot make any moves around the offense.
