By: Reese Nasser

Adrian Peterson has had a hall of fame career. Even after a 14-year career, Peterson still has gas in the tank. He is still playing the game and at a high level. During the 2020 season, at age 35, Peterson still reached the end zone seven times, only the second time that he has reached that total since 2016. Peterson also surpassed 700 yards from scrimmage. He has proven to still be capable and still wants to play in the NFL. Here are the top remaining spots that Peterson could go to still play. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons could use an extra back on the roster. The Falcons current lead back is former Carolina Panthers backup Mike Davis. Davis proved to be a solid option last season as he filled in for the injured Christian McCaffery. He finished the season with eight touchdowns and 1,015 yards from scrimmage. 

Cordarelle Patterson is slotted as RB2 but he is more of a utility player, more known for his receiving and kick return abilities. He does have big play ability, which has been on full display his whole career. 

The next two backs on the roster are Qadree Ollison and Tony Brooks-James. The two of them combined for four rushing attempts totaling seven yards. The Falcons may plan on incorporating one of these younger backs into a larger role but it is still unsure if that would happen. 

That leads us to Adrian Peterson. Peterson has 3,192 career carries, more than the entirety of the other rostered running backs. He also only had one less touchdown than Davis. He could not only support Davis, who would still be the lead back, but also help the younger backs progress into a bigger role over time.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos could use Peterson as a way to ease a new group of running backs into their spots. While Melvin Gordon III is the #1, the number two spot could be up for grabs, at least for now. Denver drafted North Carolina running back Javonte Wiliams in the second round. Due to him being a rookie, they may not throw him directly into the fire. 

The other rostered backs are Royce Freeman and Mike Boone. Peterson had better numbers than both last season. 

Peterson’s impact could be felt immediately in Denver. Giving Williams the opportunity to learn behind both Gordon and Peterson could be extremely beneficial to his career. Gordon’s injury history could also make this signong worth it. Gordon appeared in 15 games last season but started only 10. The Broncos may attempt to play him carefully and Peterson could help lessen the load.

Minnesota Vikings 

A reunion with the team where it all began. It would be a storybook ending to a long career for Peterson. The addition would also make sense. Outside of star running back Dalvin Cook, the Minnesota Vikings have a running back room that is somewhat crowded and young. But, outside of third-year back Alexander Mattison, the rest of the room lacks in comparison to Peterson. 

It would also be fitting to have Peterson finish with Minnesota. During his time with the Vikings, he accounted for 13,000 yards from scrimmage and 102 touchdowns. He would be welcomed back in Minnesota and would be a great place to end his storied career.

The post Best remaining fits for Adrian Peterson appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Pat Pitts

The year is 2021 and Adrian Peterson is still playing football at a competitive level. In the past two seasons, he has rushed for a combined 1500 yards and 12 touchdowns. Todd Gurley has rushed for the same amount of yards in this span. 

Peterson, who turned 36 in March, is a free agent heading into the season. He spent last season in the Motor City leading the Lions in rushing attempts and yards. In 2019, he led the Washington Football Team in all rushing stats. 

Adrian Peterson does not age. 

 There are a lot of teams that would benefit from signing this future Hall of Famer. However, I’m only going to mention a few. Here are the teams that should sign Peterson. 

Honorable Mention: Minnesota Vikings 

This needs to be said. Adrian Peterson must retire a Viking. 

In a league where loyalty has been tossed in the trash, someone needs to revive it. The man ran for 2000 yards after tearing his ACL. He made Minnesota football exciting once again. 

It is unlikely it will happen in 2021 but after the season a one-day contract could be in play. 

Detroit Lions

Peterson signed with the Lions a few days before the 2020 season began. A head-scratching decision turned out to be one of the few positives to take away from the rollercoaster year. He led the Lions in rush attempts and yards, along with ranking second in touchdowns behind D’Andre Swift. 

Peterson resigning in Detroit could be the best option for the 15-year veteran. Peterson mentoring Swift gives Lions fans hope for the future along with the dynamic duo rushing for a combined 1100+ in Anthony Lynn’s run-heavy offense. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Staying with the theme of mentorship, Peterson has the chance to be a mentor to a future top-five RB in the NFL. 

James Conner’s departure to the desert gives Anthony McFarland the opportunity to slide into the RB1 role over Benny Snell and recently signed Kalen Ballage. 

Also, “Big” Ben Roethlisberger has an elite running back again lining up beside him. The last time Roethlisberger had an elite RB line up next to him, he performed at an elite level. Between 2014 and 2018, he led the league in passing twice throwing for over 4500. 

Peterson does not only help to mentor younger RBs, but gives Roethlisberger confidence to air the ball out. 

*also, how sick would AP look in the black and yellow uniforms??* 

Cincinatti Bengals

Joe Mixon has not had the best start to his career. For reference, Peterson has rushed for more yards than Mixon over the past few seasons. 

The departure of Gio Benard leaves an empty spot for AP to fill. He acts as a giant security blanket for Burrow. Peterson’s ability to burst out big runs allows Burrow to gain more confidence and air it out to Boyd and Higgins. 

Peterson can help this team win and develop their game in one season. He is an interesting free agent that could improve a franchise over night. 

New England Patriots

Oops. Is my bias showing? 

Other than the obvious reason of having Adrian Peterson on the Patriots would be a dream come true, it actually makes sense for this new and improved New England football team. 

James White resigned. Damian Harris looks ready to become a workhorse. Sony Michel remains on the chopping block until he learns how to run the football. 

Peterson would compliment James White extremely well and could be utilized in Belichick’s 2021 offense. He did not sign two of the league’s top TE to just catch passes; he wants them to fight in the trenches. 

Cam Newton and Adrian Peterson possibly joining forces to run over the NFL puts a smile on my face. A man can dream. 

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals signed James Conner to a one year contract. His performance in 2020 should indicate how that experiment will turn out. The Cardinals need an explosive, elusive back in that offense. Peterson fits the mold. 

How bad has James Conner been the past two seasons? Adrian Peterson has rushed for more yards AND more touchdowns than Conner on teams with below .500 records. 

Kyler Murray has been gifted everything he could possibly need for a deep playoff run. Why not add one of the greatest RBs to the squad? 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence and Adrian Peterson in the same offense. A sentence that sounds like a hypothetical could become a reality in 2021. 

James Robinson remains the premiere back in their offense after his monster rookie campaign. However, he is not ready for an RB1 workload just yet. 

Peterson compliments Robinson’s play style extremely well and will provide a lot of relief for Robinson. He broke out in 2020 rushing for over 1000 yards and ranking as a top five fantasy running back to end the season. 

Adrian Peterson and James Robinson make a lethal backfield that no team could be able to contain. 

The last option is retirement, but I do not want to see that just yet. Adrian Peterson is one of the most fun players to watch. At 36 years old, he still can bust through gaps and break defender’s ankles on a dime. He continues to play at a high level each season. 

Adrian Peterson needs to be signed. The NFL needs one more season of AP. 

The post Adrian Peterson landing spots: A return to Minnesota? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Caleb Holfoth (@cmhfilm)

Adrian Peterson has had one of the best running back careers in NFL history. The 4-time First-Team All-Pro, 7-time Pro-Bowler, and future first-ballot Hall of Famer is looking for a new team after spending his 2020 season with the Detroit Lions. Peterson has already stated that he is not only looking to return but he is chasing his 1st ever Championship and going after Emmitt Smith’s Rushing Yards Record which he is 3,535 yards away from. 

Peterson is still a low-end starter/high-end backup in the NFL and his veteran presence would be valued in an NFL locker room. Peterson has slowed down throughout the past three seasons. 

• 251 attempts, 1042 yards, 20 receptions, 208 yards, 8 total TD’s, 4.2 YP (with WFT)
• 211 attempts, 898 yards, 17 receptions, 142 yards, 5 total TD’s, 4.3 YPC (with WFT)
• 156 attempts, 604 yards, 12 receptions, 101 yards, 7 total TD’s, 3.9 YPC (with DET)

Adrian Peterson still has juice in the tank. Peterson averaged more yards per carry and notable NFL running backs Todd Gurley (FA), Joe Mixon (CIN), and had the same as Josh Jacobs (LVR). Teams that need an option and are limited by the lowered Salary Cap this offseason should look at Peterson alongside teams who want a veteran option to be a backup for a season. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Boasting the worst rushing offense in the NFL averaging a sad 3.6 yards per carry and 84.4 yards per game (7 yards less than 2nd worst in the NFL). The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need an upgrade at running back. The only problem is that the Steelers are already above the cap. Signs point to Ben Roethlisberger returning with a contract restructure saving the Steelers some money. 

However, that money will have to be used to resign notable players who are becoming free agents such as Bud Dupree (OLB), Alejandro Villanueva (LT), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), and Mike Hilton (DB). Pittsburgh likely cannot afford many of the large running back names on the market. 

Peterson is an underrated option that they could pair with a back from the 2021 NFL draft. Peterson is too late in his career to change the trajectory of a franchise however he could impact the team more than many running backs on the market with his experience. There is much more wrong with the Steelers on offense than the running back position but there is no doubt that having a strong veteran player in the backfield would benefit the Steelers next season. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have a mediocre offense since there is little to no balance. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Russell Gage continue to be one of the most explosive passing groups in the NFL. The running game led by Todd Gurley and Brian Hill was miles behind the passing game. Averaging only 95.8 yards per game the Falcons rushing offense was led by Todd Gurley who finished averaging 3.5 yards per carry and with less than 700 yards on the season. Atlanta is in a similar position to Pittsburgh due to the massive $40 million cap hit that Matt Ryan has. The Falcons are currently $12 million over the cap before free agency and the draft. In addition to that, both Todd Gurley and Brian Hill are free agents. 

The Falcons will likely draft a running back because of how strapped for cash they are. Adrian Peterson would be a good fit to be a veteran leader in the new-look Falcons running back room while also being able to handle starting duties for several weeks at a time if new coach Arthur Smith needs him too. Arthur Smith comes from Tennessee where he called plays for All-Pro running back Derrick Henry. There is not a running back that is similar to Henry in the NFL however if there is a style of running that emulates what Henry does it is Adrian Peterson.

New York Giants

The New York Giants may be a surprise to some on this list. However, after Saquon Barkley was put on Injured Reserve after suffering ACL and Meniscus injuries in a Week 2 contest against the Bears the New York Giants ran through several different running backs. Wayne Gallman, Alfred Morris, and Devonta Freeman were all underwhelmed for the Giants during weeks 3-17. All three players averaged less than 46 yards per game and led to the Giants being 2nd last in yards per game. 

While Barkley returning gives the Giants a massive boost there still should be a concern with the backup role. Peterson could come in as a one-year fix and give the Giants a reliable back behind their star. In addition to the need the Giants have, Peterson and Barkley already have a strong relationship. Barkley leaned on Peterson and his advice before and after he had surgery. Peterson could be an asset as a backup for Barkley and he would cost the veteran minimum which makes Peterson a better value than most of the running backs on the market who have unproven careers. 

I would not expect Adrian Peterson to have tons of suitors at the Beginning of free agency. However, because of his potential contract, there are not many teams that would turn down his veteran presence in their locker room. Peterson may wait to sign with a team until training camp to wait and see where other backs land this offseason through the NFL Draft and Free agency. By the time training camp comes around there will be several teams in contact with Peterson in an attempt to sign the future Hall-of-Famer.

Contract Projection: 1-year, Veteran Minimum ($1,050,000)

Honorable Mentions: Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers

The post 3 Potential Destinations For Adrian Peterson: Where Will AP Continue Playing? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.