The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly not looking at a trade for Adrian Peterson this offseason after signing Darren McFadden and losing DeMarco Murray and the team may concentrate on the draft to add depth, as players like Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, TJ Yeldon, Duke Johnson and Ameer Abdullah along with Tevin Coleman make for a deep draft class at running backs in 2015 for Jerry Jones to pick from.
The Cowboys were once considered the top option for Peterson, as he is from Texas and the team needed a legitimate replacement for Murray. But since the offseason started, the idea of Peterson coming to the Cowboys has become less and less of a possibility based on the moves that the Cowboys and other teams have made. The Cowboys lost Murray to the Eagles, but they added Darren McFadden on a low risk deal and Todd Archer reports at ESPN that Jones wants to stay conservative spending money the rest of the offseason.
The contract was the main issue with Peterson, as he is set to get paid over $12 million and cost $15 million on the salary cap. After getting rid of Murray, the Cowboys were not interested in bringing in another running back that would take up a ton of cap space. According to CBS Sports, sources tell 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that the Cowboys "won't be pursuing" a deal for Peterson this offseason, as they see the draft as the best way to add depth at the position.
Todd Gurley is considered to be one of the best players coming out despite dealing with an injury last season, while ESPN reports that Melvin Gordon and Tevin Coleman are also getting attention from teams. Prospects are starting team visits and Gordon could be one of the first players taken at the position, as he comes in after rushing for over 2000 yards and adding nearly 30 touchdowns last season. Coleman had 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns and he averaged seven yards per carry, making him an explosive option at RB.
Peterson's contract is for three more years and has over $40 million on the deal, which would make it very tough for him to come to Dallas without restructuring. Peterson is 30 years old and while he has been very productive in his career, that is the age when most backs start breaking down. The team doesn't want to get caught up in another cap game over the next few years and that is why they likely will look at cheap options, including in the draft.
The team just signed upstanding citizen Greg Hardy to a deal worth over $10 million and they also have Tony Romo's contract to deal with on the cap. The team was never going to pay Murray what he got in Philly and now the team likely will look at the draft as the way to bring depth behind Joseph Randle and McFadden, who previously was with the Raiders. McFadden stayed healthy for 16 games for the first time in his career last season and the Cowboys are hoping that he can keep that up again in 2015.
