It was only a matter of time but it has finally happened. According to ESPN, the Minnesota Vikings declined to pick up the option for Adrian Peterson on his 2017 contract. That means come March 9th the all-pro and future Hall of Fame running back is an unrestricted free agent.
AD has been bitten by the injury bug of late but when healthy is still a top back in this league. His powers of recovery are legend around medical circles and the NFL and he believes he has a number of years left to contribute and possibly win that elusive Super Bowl title.
Several teams will be interested in AD once he hits the open market. Provided he passes the physical, there is no reason to grab the veteran back. Still, it will be weird to see AD in another jersey, but he’s leaving a slight crack in the door of possibility with Minnesota. In a statement to ESPN’s Josina Anderson AD said:
It’s been a great 10 years with the Minnesota Vikings. They know what I bring to the organization as a player, with my work ethic and dedication. I spoke with [Vikings GM] Rick Spielman this past weekend. The door is still open to find some common ground. I understand addressing the offensive line is one of their main priorities this offseason. In the meantime, I will explore my other options and see what path God leads me on. My main goal remains the same: to win a Super Bowl championship with a great team, which I also believe we have in Minnesota.
Flip the pages for teams that are potential landing spots for AD.
