Vikings reportedly give Adrian Peterson $20 million guaranteed in restructured contract

The Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson have agreed to a restructured contract, according to a news release from the team. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed by the team, but it covers the last three years of the seven-year, $96 million contract Peterson signed in 2011.

Sources told Pro Football Talk that Peterson will earn $20 million guaranteed, part of which is guaranteed only for injury. PFT suggests that Peterson’s $13 million due this season will be fully guaranteed, with the remaining $7 million due to Peterson at the commencement of the 2016 waiver period or league year, giving the Vikings the option of moving on from the running back before the start of free agency if need be.

Peterson’s last deal, which made him the highest paid running back in the NFL, came with $36 million guaranteed. The restructure is believed to add more guaranteed money while bringing down his annual base salaries and cap hit.

“I appreciate the Vikings for working together on this restructured contract, which provides additional security for me but also allows opportunities for me to further prove my value to the team and within the NFL,” Peterson said in a statement. “It was important for me to continue my career in Minnesota, and I cannot wait to get on the field in front of Vikings fans again.”

Peterson was due base salaries of $12.75 million this season, $14.75 million in 2016 and $16.75 million in 2017, the final year of his deal. His cap hit this season was sitting at a hefty $15.4 million. The cap charge for the final two years of the deal was $15 million and $17 million.

The Vikings described the restructuring as positive for both sides.

“This agreement is a win for both Adrian and the Vikings and is a positive step toward Adrian finishing his career as a Minnesota Viking,” Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said. “As we have consistently said, Adrian is a valuable part of the Vikings organization and we look forward to his return to the field.”

Peterson’s hasn’t played since Sep. 14, 2014, landing on the commissioner’s exempt list and then serving an indefinite suspension in the wake of the child abuse case last fall. He was reinstated in April, but did not report to the team’s facility because he was reportedly upset with the way the Vikings treated him during his absence as well as a dispute over his contract, which led to a long, candid Twitter rant. The two sides buried the hatchet in June, just in time for Peterson to report to minicamp.