Former league MVP and eventual Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson isn’t quite ready to call it a career. While speaking to the media, the 36-year old said that his body feels good and is hoping to make one more run at a Super Bowl ring. At this point in his career, it appears as though Peterson will only play for a legitimate contender.
Peterson obviously isn’t the player he once was, but he can still be a solid part of a rotational committee. Last year with the Detroit Lions, the running back recorded 604 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 156 carries. Considering he won’t sign for just anybody, which running back needy teams could take a flier on the former four-time All-Pro?
Five Teams That Could Sign Adrian Peterson
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have Clyde Edwards-Helaire and not much behind him. After parting ways with Le’Veon Bell and Damien Williams in the offseason, the only backups to Edwards-Helaire are a washed-up Jerick McKinnon and Darrel Williams. Even if the Chiefs believe Edwards-Helaire can handle a three-down workload, they could use a reliable backup. Any team with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid is going to be competitive, so it probably wouldn’t be too hard to convince Peterson to sign on.
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Seattle Seahawks
Nobody loves to run the ball more than Pete Carroll. After experimenting with a pass-happy attack in 2020, all signs indicate that Carroll will return to his run-heavy routes in 2021. Chris Carson is the only proven commodity on the depth chart, as Rashaad Penny is coming off a major injury and has not played up to expectation. Peterson could easily be the second-best runner on the roster, and any team with Russell Wilson will have a decent shot at a deep playoff run.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have one of the best offenses in all of football. Josh Allen looks the part of a franchise quarterback, Stefon Diggs leads what might be the deepest receiver group in football, and the offensive line should be an above-average unit. The one weakness is running back, where the duo of Zack Moss and Devin Singletary leave a little something to be desired. Both players are competent runners, but neither guy should be responsible for an entire workload. Peterson wouldn’t be the starter by any stretch of the imagination, but he could easily fit in as a part of the rotation.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears might not look like a contender on the surface, but all the pieces are there for a deep run. The defense is great, the offense has some nice pieces, and this team could push for the division if Justin Fields is the real deal. David Montgomery proved himself to be a great running back last year, but Damien Williams is nothing more than a career journeyman and Tarik Cohen is coming off a serious knee injury. The Bears could use another body in the backfield, and Peterson is one of the best options left on the market.
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Tennessee Titans
In many ways, Derrick Henry is this generation’s Adrian Peterson. A ferocious runner that simply refuses to go down at first contact, Henry might just be the NFL’s most dangerous running back. The modern-day version of Adrian Peterson is obviously not as good as Derrick Henry, but they possess similar skill sets. Should something happen to the reigning rushing champion, Peterson would be able to step in and do an adequate job in Henry’s role. And considering the Titans made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, Peterson should be willing to sign with Tennessee.
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