Adrian Peterson has been the best running back in the NFL since being drafted in 2007 by the Minnesota Vikings. He's still suspended, but talk about whether or not he'll be back with the Vikings in 2015 is heating up ahead of free agency. General manager Rick Spielman praised Peterson and tamped down any speculation about whether or not Peterson would return to the Vikings on Wednesday at the combine.
Vikings want to keep Adrian Peterson
General manager Rick Spielman made it clear how he feels about Adrian Peterson.
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
“I don’t think any team in the NFL wouldn’t want an Adrian Peterson-caliber running back on their team,” Spielman said. “We want Adrian Peterson back with the Minnesota Vikings.”
Peterson is still under contract with the Vikings.
“He made a mistake, he admitted a mistake ... I’m sure he’s doing everything he can to make himself better on and off the field.”
Spielman also brushed aside concerns about Peterson’s readiness to play. “When Adrian Peterson comes back, I’m sure he’ll come back with something to prove to everybody.”
Peterson has amassed 10,190 rushing yards and 86 touchdowns in his eight-year career. Peterson peaked in 2012 with 2,097 yards, the second-highest single-season total of all-time. However, Peterson only played one game in 2014 after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list for being involved in a child abuse investigation. Peterson admitted to beating his 4-year-old son with a switch, something any team housing Peterson will have to deal with come training camp. Currently, Peterson is awaiting reinstatement, which can come April 15.
Turning 30 years old in March, Peterson is hitting the imaginary line where many running backs begin a swift decline. The six-time All-Pro has three years remaining on his six-year, $86.28 million contract with $36 million guaranteed. If the Vikings decide to move on from Peterson, they would save $13 million against the cap in 2015 before netting $15 and $17 million in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Minnesota went 6–9 last season without Peterson, with Matt Asiata leading the team in rushing with 570 yards. The Vikings do have a running back-filled draft coming in April, with Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah, Todd Gurley and other available. Still, it is highly unlikely any of them will play like Peterson now or in the future.
The Vikings could also try to restructure Peterson’s contract. If Minnesota lets Peterson walk, he will not find a three-year deal worth $45 million, the remainder of his current deal. Peterson also has incentive to restructure, giving him some more guaranteed money. Currently, Peterson only has $2 million guaranteed remaining to be paid out.
If general manager Rick Spielman does decide to cut bait with Peterson, the Vikings would have approximately $31.1 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap. With no expensive in-house players about to become free agents, Minnesota would be in a position to improve some weaknesses, including its receivers, offensive line and corners.
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