The Minnesota Vikings may look at the release or a trade of Adrian Peterson in 2015 after his suspension and if that happens, teams like the To Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots could be interested and the Vikings may explore those options after Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon had solid seasons for the team.
Peterson is suspended indefinitely and he can apply for reinstatement in the April of 2015 after his appeal was denied by the league. According to ESPN.com reporter Chris Mortenson, the Vikings have not yet decided about what they will do with Peterson once his suspension is up, although earlier in the season he reported that the team was ready to move on. Peterson played in one game this season and rushed for 75 yards and his absence put Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon in key roles. Asiata played well last season while coming in for an injured Peterson, while McKinnon showed that he can handle being a feature back before ending up on IR with a back injury.
The team also added Ben Tate, but he is not likely a long term option for the team. Peterson is considered to be one of the best backs in football, but his year off for his issues related to a child abuse case could drastically affect where his career goes. The Vikings have Peterson on a huge contract and that will make him hard to trade and that is one reason why his release is more likely if the team moves on. After Peterson reached his plea deal and asked to get reinstated, sources said to ESPN.com that he would be "welcome" back on the team.
The feelings of people in the organization ultimately did not matter, as Peterson did not win his appeal. Peterson now has the chance to sit back and wait for his chance to get back in the league and that could take time. Peterson will have options if he is back and the Vikings let him go, as he still has gas left in the tank. This is not the same as Ray Rice, who had been declining before all of his issues, as Peterson has shown he can still play at a high level.
Peterson would be an option for many teams, including the Cowboys, Dolphins and Patriots, while the Browns also could look for a boost at RB. The Cowboys may keep DeMarco Murray, but if he comes back and Peterson is released, they will check in on him. Jerry Jones has made his interest known, while other teams also would likely jump in.
The Vikings have gone 6-8 on the season and that is better than many expected and one of the main reasons why is the play of Teddy Bridgewater. The offense has changed without Peterson there and the team has employed more shotgun running plays with Asiata and McKinnon this season than Peterson has used in his entire career. Peterson doesn't exactly fit in as well and that could lead to a change. Peterson spoke about his future in a USA Today interview and he added that it might be in the best interests of the two sides to have a fresh start.
