Adrian Peterson is officially back in the NFL after being reinstated following a suspension after child abuse chargers. Having yet to show up to practice with the Minnesota Vikings, the running back can be traded to any team, but the asking price will not be cheap. With teams reportedly lining up to see about acquiring Peterson in a deal before the 2015 season, are the Dallas Cowboys actually one of them?
The Minnesota Vikings hold the upper hand when it comes to Peterson and they will take advantage of it. According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, the Vikings are requesting a first-round draft pick for the former NFL MVP which could take away interest in the running back. While Peterson is certainly a talent and could elevate any offense his age is a major factor against spending a first-round pick to acquire him and considering the depth of the running back position in this year's draft class, the Dallas Cowboys might be eliminating themselves from the race.
The Cowboys looked poised to trade for Peterson after the restructured Tony Romo's contract and cleared enough space to take on Peterson's contract. However, according to the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys are more likely to spend their first-round draft pick on a running back instead of giving it up for one. Todd Gurley, TJ Yeldon and Melvin Gordon have all paid visits to the Cowboys' facilities heading into the draft with any one of them a solid option for the offense.
According to CBS Sports' reporter Dan Brugler, the Cowboys will make a move on Yeldon in the second round if Gurley is off the boards by the time they select in the first round. Many believe Yeldon is the perfect running back to replace DeMarco Murray in 2015. The former Alabama standout is solid in zone-blocking schemes while having great vision and cutting abilities. While Gurley is expected to go in the first round, Yeldon might not be off the boards until the second round setting up the Cowboys to select him.
The Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars have inserted themselves as the frontrunners for the Peterson trade. The Cowboys appear content to draft a future star while still having confidence in the abilities of Darren McFadden who was signed after Murray departed. The money saved with Romo's contract could easily go to giving Dez Bryant a long-term deal while a rookie would not be a huge cap hit in the coming years.
