Adrian Peterson has had a legendary career in the NFL, that much is undoubted.  5th all-time in rushing yards at 14,918, 4th all-time in rushing touchdowns at 120, and 10th all-time in total touchdowns at 126.  There are very few players in the history of the league who have accomplished what AP has done.  However, at 36 years years of age (37 on March 21st), we do not know much about what he could provide to an NFL team.  In this article, I will cover 3 teams that could sign AP for 2022, as well as why they should.

New York Giants

The Giants clearly need someone to handle some of the workload for Saquon Barkley and give him a chance to rest some downs rather than be a workhorse.  With this, the Giants could use Peterson as the Lions did in 2020, to pace D’Andre Swift.  Letting AP run as the primary ball carrier is mostly gone nowadays as his efficiency is not as good.  However, letting him be a change of pace back who can get a few yards and give Barkley a break may not be the worst idea for the New York football Giants. 

Miami Dolphins

With Malcolm Brown and Duke Johnson both set to hit free agency, the Dolphins could be looking for another 3^rd down back to bring in to complement Myles Gaskin and Phillip Lindsay.  While AP would not be the starter, as mentioned previously, it would be beneficial for him to get snaps as a rotational back and be thrown out onto the field in good scenarios where he can get the first.  Giving a young offense with Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle a veteran presence also would not hurt to improve the structure of the team.

Indianapolis Colts

Obviously, we all know by now that the Colts have a phenomenal running back in Jonathan Taylor, however giving him a back to take a few snaps and let JT catch his breath may be good for his career.  With many of the premier backs suffering injuries due to overuse as a workhorse in the last few years (Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey, etc.) giving Taylor a suitable backup would be helpful to say the least. 

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By: Reese Nasser

Running back Adrian Peterson has been one of the league’s most polarizing players since he entered the league in 2007. He has filled the NFL record book, achieving things that most players at his position can only dream to achieve. 

But at age 36, Peterson is trying to prove that he still has gas left in the tank. The 14-year NFL veteran is still currently a free agent and is trying to find a home for the 2021 season. 

Peterson spent his entire 2020 season with the Detroit Lions. He appeared in all 16 games and started 10. In his lone season with Detroit, Peterson reached the end zone seven times and gained 705 yards from scrimmage on 168 touches.
Petersons ability to still perform at a consistent level has led many to wonder where he will play this season. A return to the Lions could be a real possibility and be a win-win situation for both teams.

The Lions depth chart currently lacks a truly established veteran running back. Second year running back D’Andre Swift will be the lead back in 2021, regardless of who else the team adds before the season starts. Swift played well in his rookie season, appearing in 13 games where he scored 10 times and had 878 yards from scrimmage. 

The real issue begins when you look past Swift. The lack of depth could lead to the Lions needing to bring in extra running backs. Outside of Swift, there is just one back on the roster that has played in the NFL; Jamaal Williams. Williams spent the past four seasons with the Green Bay Packers where he played in 60 games. He scored 18 total touchdowns and was effective in both the pass and run game. 

The next two stored backs are both rookies; Jermar Jefferson and Dedrick Mills. Jefferson was selected in the seventh round. The Oregon State product scored 29 touchdowns for the Beavers, with 27 of them coming on the ground. Dedrick Mills spent time at both Georgia Tech and Nebraska. He finished with just over 2100 yards from scrimmage and 26 touchdowns. 

Between all four rostered backs in Detroit, there are just 73 NFL games played. The clear lack of experience could be the driving force in bringing Adiran Peterson back for one more season. Peterson has still been one of the more explosive players at his position over the past few seasons. 

His ability to consistently stay on the field could also be a reason that the Lions bring Peterson back. In the past three seasons, he has missed just one game and has performed well whenever he has stepped onto the field. 

Arguably the biggest reason to bring Peterson back to Detroit could be his veteran presence. He is one of the most accomplished players in the history of football and his knowledge could help elevate this particular young running back room. 

Peterson could also potentially move into seventh all-time on the running back yards from the scrimmage list this upcoming season. A few quality games from Peterson or a steady handful of carries throughout this reason could be just enough for him to move up. 

The Lions could benefit from bringing Peterson back and Peterson could add even more to his long and storied resume. His career has been elite up to this point and Peterson isn’t ready to hang it up just yet. A one-year deal could be just what both sides need. 

The post Should the Detroit Lions bring back Adrian Peterson? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

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.

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