The Minnesota Vikings, despite the eager anticipation of fans and other teams, are the most anxious to hear about running back Adrian Peterson's NFL future. Peterson, who was on the NFL's exempt list for much of last season before being suspended, is eligible for reinstatement in April.
Even if the former MVP is reinstated, there is no guarantee that he will be wearing a Vikings uniform next season. Peterson is scheduled to count $15.4 million against the salary cap, by far the highest mark in the league among running backs. While Peterson is a special player, it is unclear how effective he will be after a year away from the game. Will Minnesota be willing to pay that type of money for a question mark?
"If Peterson is back at that number, the Vikings would have $131.7 million in cap commitments, according to ESPN Stats & Information," ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling wrote. "Assuming a $140 million cap number in 2015, plus a carryover of $5,723,960 from 2014, they'd have about $14 million in ca room. The nine draft picks the Vikings kept on their roster accounted for about $6.9 million of cap space last year, but if the team releases or restructures the contracts of veterans like Chad Greenway, Greg Jennings and Charlie Johnson, there could be another $7-8 million (or more) of cap space to be gained. The Vikings wouldn't have room for an extravagant offseason spending plan if they kept Peterson, but maybe they'd feel like a key defensive addition, an upgrade on the offensive line and a Peterson-Teddy Bridgewater combo in their backfield is enough to make a leap in 2015."
Minnesota would have some replacement options should they decide that Peterson's contract is too expensive at this stage in his career.
"The Vikings got more than 1,100 yards out of the Jerick McKinnon/Matt Asiata combo (which cost them just over $1.1 million)," Goessling wrote. "They're evaluating a draft class stocked with running backs, and the next-highest paid running back in the league (Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy) is scheduled to carry a cap number of $11.95 million next year."
Peterson has been Minnesota's most marketable player for the last several years. However, even if the Vikings were to part ways with the six-time All-Pro, Goessling does not believe the team's appeal to free agents would be hurt at all.
"I wouldn't worry about that too much..." Goessling said of free agents being turned off by Minnesota. "Bridgewater's presence is going to be a big selling point, and plenty of players around the league are familiar with what Mike Zimmer is about. Throw in an improving young defense and the fact the Vikings have a new stadium opening in a year, and I'd think this will be a fairly attractive destination for free agents this spring."
