The Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson have been at odds this offseason and a split could be coming through a trade at some point, as Peterson may not want to return in 2015 if that happens, teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams could be potential options for the team.
Peterson played in only one game last season before being placed on the exempt list and he is reportedly meeting with Roger Goodell this week to discuss his status. According to NFL.com, Peterson still needs to be reinstated to the league even after his indefinite suspension was overturned and his official return could come next week. April 15 was the first chance that Peterson would have been able to apply for reinstatement prior to his suspension getting turned over on appeal.
Peterson has spent the offseason involved in rumors regarding his potential return to the Vikings and the team has been public about wanting him back. According to ESPN.com, head coach Mike Zimmer said that the team has no current plans to trade Peterson and that they want him back for 2015. The front office has been the same way and it could be in Peterson's hands whether or not he wants to return. Peterson can speak with the Vikings about his contract and the team can try to work out a trade, but right now nothing is close to happening.
According to ESPN.com sources, Peterson is "uneasy" about coming back to the Vikings, as he was upset about the way he was placed on the exempt list last season. Peterson said he felt it was an "ambush" between the team and the league and that he hoped to play while dealing with his legal case in Texas. According to Bleacher Report writer Jason Cole, Peterson's "dream scenario" is ending up with the Cowboys.
Pro Football Talk reported earlier in the offseason that the Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals were the top landing spots if Peterson was treaded. The Cowboys freed up cap space by reworking the contract of Tony Romo, but adding Peterson would be tough with his $12.75 million salary and $15 million cap hit. The Cardinals do not want to take on a ton of money and the Cowboys still have some areas they can cut. Cole writes that Brandon Carr could be an option if the team wants Peterson.
According to Peter King, the Cardinals were willing to give up a draft pick in the high rounds for Peterson, but they want him to rework his deal if he is traded. Peterson is meeting with the NFL and could be officially reinstated soon and that would put the Vikings and Peterson on course to resolve what is happening for 2015.
Peterson's agent said that his client may not be in the best spot if he stays in Minnesota and he could be looking for the team to trade Peterson. The Cardinals and Cowboys make sense, but Dallas already signed Darren McFadden and also plans on addressing the position in the draft. Peterson was replaced by Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata last season for the Vikings while he was out on the exempt list.
