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Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson wants out, Teddy Bridgewater rises

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Minnesota Vikings fans have reason to be optimistic for the 2015 season and reason to fret as well, which is the case with any team. But for Vikings fans, those ups and downs have crystalized on two players in particular. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater appears headed toward a breakout season and could become one of the young stars of the league. But running back Adrian Peterson appears to simply want out, period.

Bridgewater fell in the draft due to a poor pro day, and the Minnesota Vikings took him as something of a flyer, hoping he would develop. But he quickly won the starting job and led the team to a somewhat respectable season even with Adrian Peterson sitting out due to indefinite suspension. And there is every reason to expect Teddy to get even better this season with more experience under his belt. But what about Peterson?

The relative good news for the Minnesota Vikings is that Adrian Peterson has little leverage to force his way out of town. Few teams will be interested in trading for him, both because of his off the field controversy and because he’s an aging injury plagued running back. So the Vikings can opt to simply refuse to trade him, in which case his only way to opt out of Minnesota would be to opt out from playing football entirely. So unless a strong offer gets made by another team like the Cowboys, look for Peterson to be on the field for the Vikings in 2015.

Minnesota Vikings need Adrian Peterson more than ever in 2015

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The Minnesota Vikings want star running back Adrian Peterson back in the fold for the 2015 season, despite his off the field controversy and advancing age and injury history, because he is simply-put their best player. But Peterson isn’t as sure, and has used surrogates to hint that he wants to be traded to a contending team where he can start over. With the NFL Draft approaching, can the Vikings mend fences with their star player before they have to trade him?

If Adrian Peterson forces a trade and the Minnesota Vikings end up having to dump him, the silver lining is that there will be at least one eager suitor in the form of the Cowboys. However other teams may be more hesitant to take on the running back, who was charged with beating his son with a switch and became the center of a national firestorm, causing him to be suspended for the remainder of the season. The lack of suitors means no bidding war, and the Vikings may not be able to get sufficient compensation to make it worth their while. So what then?

The short answer is to figure out how to make Peterson comfortable remaining with the Minnesota Vikings. The biggest selling point may be the presence of rising quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who could elevate the team into mild contender status is his second season under center turns out as well as his first. Beyond that the Vikings could offer a contract extension, but that may not be viable considering Peterson will be north of thirty soon.

Dallas Cowboys eying Adrian Peterson: Minnesota Vikings trade bait

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With the path all but cleared for Adrian Peterson to return to the NFL, the groundwork will inevitably begin for his trade from the Minnesota Vikings to the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings say they want to keep him in the fold, but at this point that looks more like posturing in the hopes of increasing his trade value, particularly with Peterson having hinted that he wants to move on. But just how much are Jerry Jones and the Cowboys willing to pay for him?

Adrian Peterson is the rare running back who can change a team dynamic in an era in which most teams rely on interchangeable dime-store running backs who are casually used up and tossed aside. But he’s also thirty years old, the dividing line after which most NFL running backs are never heard from again. And he’s injury proof. And his contract is oversized for a running back. And he brings a good deal of baggage and controversy with him which extends beyond the football world. But none of that may stop the Dallas Cowboys from going after him, particularly after losing DeMarco Murray in free agency. So how much will they give up?

With one or both of Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon likely available to the Dallas Cowboys in the first round, it’s unlikely they’d be willing to ship that pick in exchange for Adrian Peterson. In fact his value could be much lower than that, if only because the pool of teams willing to trade for him may be small - and in fact may be just the Cowboys. But look for a deal to get done no later than draft day, as a deal just makes too much sense for both sides.