Adrian Peterson slated to become a free agent after Vikings decline $18 million option

After an incredible 10-year run, Adrian Peterson is days away from no longer being a member of the Minnesota Vikings. The team announced it will not pick up the $18 million option on Peterson’s contract, leaving him set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

But the Vikings say it doesn’t necessarily mean his time with the team is through.

“Adrian is an important part of the Minnesota Vikings organization,” general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement Tuesday. “We will continue to have conversations with his representatives and leave our future options open while determining what is best for both parties moving forward.”

Peterson also left open the possibility that a new contract with the Vikings could be in his future, although “other options” will be explored.

”It’s been a great 10 years with the Minnesota Vikings,” Peterson said in a statement to ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “They know what I bring to the organization as a player, with my work ethic and dedication. I spoke with Rick Spielman this past weekend. The door is still open to find some common ground.

“I understand addressing the offensive line is one of their main priorities this offseason. In the meantime, I will explore my other options and see what path God leads me on. My main goal remains the same: to win a Super Bowl championship with a great team, which I also believe we have in Minnesota.”

Arguably the best running back of his generation, Peterson has tallied an unbelievable 11,747 rushing yards and 97 rushing touchdowns, along with 1,945 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in 10 years with the team.

Peterson’s 11,747 rushing yards rank 16th in NFL history and first in Vikings history (by a margin of almost 5,000 yards). The seven-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro (five of those seven All-Pro designations being on the first team) is one of only 15 running backs to ever win NFL MVP and holds the NFL record for must rushing yards in a game with 296.

While Peterson’s numbers and legacy speak for themselves, there’s no way the Vikings were ever going to pay him the $18 million salary he was due in the 2017 season — LeSean McCoy, who is now the highest-paid back for the upcoming season, is only going to cost $8.875 million in 2017. Parting ways with Peterson’s contract does not incur a single dollar in dead money, and it prevents the team from severely overspending at a position that has been severely undervalued in today’s NFL.

It’s possible that Peterson could return to Minnesota, but there are other potential landing spots for the running back. He mentioned the Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Giants as teams he could play for, even tweeting about the Giants earlier in February.

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers have also been talked about as possible teams for Peterson in 2017.

But Peterson’s issues over the past couple of years didn’t help his case for another year on his current deal with the Vikings. The running back missed 28 games over the past three seasons, missing almost the entire 2014 season due to a clean up of his hernia surgery, as well as his controversial suspension. In 2016, Peterson was carted off the field with a knee injury in Week 2, missing the rest of the season with a torn meniscus.

With plenty of teams — including the Vikings — searching for running back help, Peterson will be a coveted free agent asset if he reaches the market. The 31-year-old back likely has plenty of tread left on his tires and could be a lead back for several NFL teams, even some with an established runner at the top of the depth chart.

The Vikings, meanwhile, would suddenly have a huge hole at running back with Peterson out of the picture. In Peterson’s absence, Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon reminded the team just how valuable of a player the superstar back is, while simultaneously proving that neither player is the answer up north. Minnesota needs to address the position if it hopes to keep pressure off whoever lines up at quarterback next year and upgrade the offense as a whole. Minnesota is close to being a genuine playoff contender, but the team will have to clear some big hurdles first.