The Dallas Cowboys are interested in an Adrian Peterson trade this offseason and if the running back is traded from the Vikings, Dallas could be the team to get the deal done despite his high salary and this comes as names like Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, Melvin Gordon and Ameer Abdullah are potential draft targets for Jerry Jones in 2015.
The Cowboys let DeMarco Murray walk in free agency and when that happened, many around the league assumed the team would go after Peterson. The Cowboys have a tight cap situation and while they freed up money with the reworking of Tony Romo's deal, they still have to sign their draft picks. According to ESPN and Pro Football Talk, an article on the team website describes the interest in Peterson and now that he is reinstated, his future could be decided soon.
Peterson is being reinstated to the league after being on the exempt list and while his agent has expressed publically that Minnesota may not be the best place for him, the team has been consistent about what they want. According to Adam Schefter, the Vikings released a statement saying they look forward to Peterson coming back to the team once he is officially reinstated. The team has said they want Peterson back for the 2015 season.
The Vikings said earlier in the offseason that they would not be releasing Peterson and that meant a trade would be his only way out if that is what he wants. According to USA Today, Peterson's agent said it might not be in the "best interests" of the running back to remain in Minnesota. The Cowboys have been considered a target, while Pro Football Talk reports that the Redskins, Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals are also potential fits.
The Cowboys allowed Murray to walk because of the deep draft class coming up at RB and also because of the money he wanted. Murray has an injury history and at his age the Cowboys did not want to overpay. While Peterson has $44 million over the next three years on his deal, the Cowboys could be more willing because he is a Hall of Fame caliber player. Adding a $15 million cap hit this season is tough and that is why it may not happen.
The draft class this year has some very good names, including Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, Melvin Gordon and Ameer Abdullah as well as Duke Johnson, David Cobb, Jeremy Langford and Jay Ajayi. The team has met with Coleman and also has had Gordon in for a visit and he is looking like a potential target out of Wisconsin. Gordon played in college with center Travis Frederick and he said that he would love to play behind the Cowboys offensive line.
Gurley is looked at as the best running back by most scouts and he could be off the board for the Cowboys. The team signed Darren McFadden this offseason, but Todd Archer at ESPN Dallas writes that the Cowboys likely want to add depth at RB in the draft. The team may look at Peterson, but the money could be too much to deal with.
