According to Bleacher Report’s lead NFL writer Mike Freeman, there are two ways teams are thinking about former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Freeman says “many” teams think Peterson, at 32 years old, is “effectively done.” One scout called him a “glorified fullback.” But there are still a handful of teams that think Peterson has another 3-4 years in the tank, Freeman says.
In addition to those opinions, ESPN reports that Peterson is still asking or $8 million for the first year of his contract. That’s nearly double what any other free-agent running back has signed for.
According to Pro Football Reference, only 10 players age 32 or older have topped 1,000 yards in a season. The list is short, but five of them – Emmitt Smith, John Riggins, Franco Harris, John Henry Johnson and Walter Payton – are in the Hall of Fame.
Peterson, without a doubt, has a future in the Hall of Fame. And considering that he’s played in only 21 games the last three seasons, the majority of which were behind a terrible offensive line, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he’s back near the top of the league in rushing next season.
