After missing all but three games this past season due to injuries to his groin and knee, 31-year-old running back Adrian Peterson is not a guarantee to return to the Minnesota Vikings for an 11th season.
Peterson is set to count $18 million against the team’s cap in 2017, which would make him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. In reality, it wouldn’t even be that close.
This has led to speculation that the Vikings may move on from one of the greatest players in franchise history. After all, they can release him without having to pay a single penny of the $18 million owed to him next season.
Speaking up on the topic, Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf wouldn’t commit to bringing Peterson back next season.
“Adrian is such an important part of our organization, and he’s a great player and still a great player, so we’ll see how the business stuff works out,” Wilf said, via the Pioneer Press . “But he’s going to have a purple jacket, a gold (hall of fame) jacket (whenever he retires) and all the accolades he deserves. He’s one of the greatest Vikings of all time and certainly one of the greatest players of all time. It’s a tough analysis we’re going to have to go through here.”
The Vikings could very well be at the point where moving on from Peterson makes sense. More so than his high price tag for next season, the team might simply want to move on and build around a talented young core.
The issue here is that Minnesota was absolutely atrocious on the ground this past regular season. It ranked dead last in the NFL in rushing yards and averaged a league low 3.2 yards per attempt. For his part, Peterson led the NFL in rushing just two years ago. If healthy, he’s proven he still has a lot in the tank.