It is less than a week before the first NFL game of the 2020 season, and yet former MVP and 13-year veteran running back Adrian Peterson finds himself without a team.
The Washington Football Team made the decision to release the 35-year-old Peterson to give more playing time for their younger running backs as well as to give Peterson a chance to play for other teams.
Even if the seven-time Pro Bowler’s best years are behind him, he can still contribute to when signed by the right team. In the 2019 season, his second with Washington, Peterson played 15 games finishing with 898 rushing yards on 211 carries to go with five touchdowns. Other NFL teams are also recognizing his value, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that teams have inquired about potentially acquiring his services, with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, and the teams who tried to acquire Leonard Fournette reportedly among those eyeing the future Hall of Fame running back.
Here are three teams that make sense for the former MVP to play his 14th season.
3. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are likely set at running back next season, with Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison also getting some playing time. Any role that Peterson takes with the Vikings will be limited, and he has younger competition for the position. The reason why it makes sense for Minnesota to sign him is a chance for him to return to the team where he played his best years.
It has been four years since his departure from the Vikings after playing 10 seasons for the team, and Peterson still owns several all-time franchise records, including rushing yards (11,474) and rushing touchdowns (92).
At this point, Peterson is writing the last few sentences in the story of what has been an astonishing NFL career. It would be fitting if he could include a homecoming and finishing with the team that he started his career with in that story.
2. New England Patriots
It seems as if the Patriots are always lurking whenever a great veteran player is potentially available, and it’s no different in the case of Peterson. New England coach Bill Belichick is no stranger to signing veterans and getting the most out of them in their final years, and he could do the same to the 2012 NFL MVP. Sony Michel will likely be the starting running back for the Pats this season, but injuries have limited his effectiveness, and the Georgia product is averaging just four yards per carry two seasons into his career.
Damien Harris could compete with Michel for the starting spot, and Adrian Peterson could serve as a mentor to these young backs alongside another veteran in James White. Playing in Foxborough also offers Peterson a much better chance at playoff contention compared to other teams that are rumored to be interested in his services, and at this point, it’s hard to believe that he’ll play his final years on a team languishing at the bottom of the standings.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Despite Peterson’s connection to the Jaguars in former Washington head coach Jay Gruden, it's unlikely that he postpones his retirement just to play for a team that will not contend for the Lombardi trophy. A team that makes more sense to try to acquire him are the reigning Super Bowl champions, which will add another weapon to their lethal offense should they succeed. A move to Kansas City also gives Peterson a final shot at a Super Bowl, which is perhaps the only accolade missing in what has been a legendary career.
Running back Damien Williams opted out of the upcoming season for the Chiefs, potentially opening up a spot for the league’s former Offensive Player of the Year. Head coach Andy Reid, however, will likely give the starting spot at running back to rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire, whom they selected with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Will the veteran running back be willing to take a backseat and play behind the rookie? The answer to that question will likely determine whether we’ll see Adrian Peterson don the Chiefs’ red, gold, and white uniforms by the time that Week 1 of the season rolls around.
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