The new league year begins March 9, and the Minnesota Vikings will have to decide what to do about Adrian Peterson and the team option that includes an $11.75 million base salary and $6 million roster bonus by then.
Adrian Peterson Wants To Stay With the Vikings
“I see myself in purple. A lot has to take place,” Peterson said on ESPN’s First Take on Thursday. “I see myself finishing off in purple. It is a business at the end of the day, so with that, things could end up differently. … Hopefully we can work things out.”
Adrian Peterson had knee surgery September 22 and made it back within 90 days, beating projections. However, he did not play in the last two Vikings games. Despite the injury, Peterson says he have at least five more years as a premier running back.
Other Team Options
Peterson did mention a couple of teams he would consider playing for. The 31-year old who has spent a decade with the Vikings would certainly be looking for a team with the potential to go to the Super Bowl. He listed off the New York Giants, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Houston Texans, but stopped there. “I’m just throwing random names out there,” he confessed.
Peterson is a seven-time Pro Bowler, was the league MVP in 2012 and would be an asset to several teams should he become a free agent.
A New Era
Without Adrian Peterson this year, the Vikings became a team much more dependent on the passing game, a role Sam Bradford stepped into with mixed results. This was due in part to injuries on the offensive line, something the Vikings need to address whether Peterson returns or not.
The salary cap and other moves the Vikings need to make in the off-season will largely determine Peterson’s fate. Fans have gotten a glimpse of what the offense would be like without him, and it’s…different.
The Quarterbacks
The Vikings would need to find another solution to the running game if Peterson does not return, and the strategy will largely depend on whether Teddy Bridgewater will return as the quarterback and whether his legs will be the factor they were before the injury provided he does.
Whether or not Peterson stays with the Vikings, whether Bridgewater returns, and how the issues with the offensive line are resolved will largely shape the direction of the of the Vikings offense for next season. Money and time will tell.
