Adrian Peterson’s future with the Vikings became further clouded over the weekend when LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch were given big contracts with guaranteed money.
McCoy, after being traded from Philadelphia to Buffalo, signed a five-year, $40 million contract, including a $13.125 million signing bonus. Lynch’s deal to stay with the Seahawks will pay him a guarantee of $12 million next season, NFL.com notes.
Peterson is due to make $12.75 million next season but none of it is guaranteed. That’s why Mike Florio writes that Minnesota’s best bet to keep Peterson is to give him a new contract.
“A check for $20 million, for example, as part of a new five-year deal with more than $30 million fully guaranteed over the next two years could be the kind of thing that gets Peterson’s attention — and the kind of thing the Vikings can afford given the 16-percent increase in total cap space the league has enjoyed in recent years.”
Pro Football Talk notes the big-money deals running backs around the league are receiving make it more likely that other teams would be willing to pay Peterson as much or more than the Vikings. One team that keeps surfacing is the Arizona Cardinals – one of five teams Peterson reportedly isn’t opposed to joining.
Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports says Arizona releasing defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was a move to clear cap space to make a run at Peterson.
A source indicated after Darnell Dockett's release that the #AZCardinals were clearing cap space to make a run at RB Adrian Peterson.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) March 8, 2015
If Arizona wants Peterson they’ll have to trade for him or wait for the Vikings to cut him.
Peterson's situation w/MIN likely coming to a head soon, whether new deal or exodus. New RB deals adding to his leverage. More talks coming
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 9, 2015
By the time Peterson’s tumultuous year comes to an end, he could very well end up in a better financial situation.
Adrian Peterson fought criminal charges for beating 4-yr-old son, #Vikings pay $13M salary, get 1 game and now have to beg him to return?
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) March 4, 2015
