For now, Adrian Peterson is still a member of the Minnesota Vikings. While it is being debated just how long that will last for the franchise, the Vikings have made it clear they are prepared to enter the season with Peterson as their starting running back. However, teams continue to eye a trade for the former NFL MVP which could leave Minnesota looking for more running back options either in free agency or the upcoming NFL Draft.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Dallas Cowboys are getting serious about a potential trade for Peterson after they restructured Tony Romo's contract and freed up over $12 million in salary cap space. While that money could be used to get Dez Bryant under contract, it could also be used to take on Peterson and his $15 million cap hit. While a price tag for the running back is unknown, the Cowboys could acquire him and then restructure his contract in order to eliminate stress later on. With Darren McFadden headlining the run game in Dallas, the Cowboys would be wise to make the move.
The Oakland Raiders continue to also get linked to Peterson considering they have the cap space to bring on the veteran. They did acquire a few rotational players in free agency, but naturally Peterson would trump them. As teams continue to float around the idea of acquiring Peterson it is a real possibility that the Vikings will not have him in 2015.
Right now, Minnesota's run game consists of Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata who will likely battle for the starting job while DuJuan Harris signed as a rotational player. That might be enough to get by with Teddy Bridgewater improving in his second season with new wide receivers, but the Vikings would be wise to at least add one more back. Giving up Peterson would free up a great deal of cap space and they team could try and make a move for someone like Knowshon Moreno or even trade for a rusher like Matt Forte who could easily pick up right where Peterson left off.
According to the Pioneer Press, the Vikings are looking at draft options heading into the official NFL Draft. The Vikings could easily go big with players like Todd Gurley or TJ Yeldon or they could target second-tier players like Mike Davis from South Carolina or Duke Johnson out of Miami. Peterson will leave a hole if he does depart the Vikings which will force the franchise to make decisions on how to replace him.
