The Adrian Peterson trade rumors have quieted down a bit with the Cowboys and Raiders signing players in free agency and now the Arizona Cardinals have emerged as the most likely landing spot if he is traded from the Minnesota Vikings and this comes as the Cardinals need another RB and if Peterson is not moved, names like Stevan Ridley, Ahmad Bradshaw or Steven Jackson could be targets.
Peterson had his suspension overturned on appeal and the Vikings and the running back have been working towards a solution to get him back for the 2015 season. Peterson reportedly does not want to take a pay cut, but ESPN.com reports that he would restructure his deal for the right move. According to Pro Football Talk, it appears that the Vikings and the Cardinals are the two most likely spots where Peterson will be for the 2015 season.
Mike Florio writes that the Cardinals are willing to trade a "high draft pick" for Peterson, but that they cann't handle the size of his current contract. The team likely would want Peterson to restructure the deal, as he has the highest cap hit of any running back in the league. Peterson is getting paid $12.75 million in salary and is a $15 million cap hit and that is just too big for the Cardinals. The team signed Larry Fitzgerald to a new deal to lower his number and now they may try and do the same if they trade for Peterson.
According to ESPN.com, the Vikings have informed Peterson and his agent that they will not be releasing him and that means if he wants out of Minnesota, it will be through a trade. The Vikings have been very open about wanting Peterson back this year, but sources have said that Peterson is not totally sure he wants to return. Peterson reportedly was unhappy with the way he was taken off the field last season and he ended up playing in one game before spending 2014 on the exempt list.
The Arizona Cardinals are in need of a running back after ranking near the bottom of the league in rushing last season and they also dealt with Andre Wellington getting banged up. The team would love to add a player like Peterson, with Fitzgerald calling the potential move a "game changer" if it happens, according to PFT. The team feels that it has the chance to make the playoffs again with Carson Palmer coming back from an injury and if they can add Peterson, it would bring in a Hall of Fame talent to the backfield.
There are other players on the market for the Cardinals, but Josh Weinfuss at ESPN.com writes that the team likely will look to the draft over free agency. Peterson is the main target and if that doesn't work, the team could look at Melvin Gordon, who is visiting with the team before the draft. Players like Ahmad Bradshaw, Stevan Ridley, Steven Jackson, Daniel Thomas and Chris Johnson are available, but the team likely will wait for the draft if they don't get Peterson. Peterson likely doesn't want to take a p[ay cut, but to get to Arizona he may have to.
