Minnesota Vikings may draft Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon to replace Adrian Peterson

By Josh Hill | Sep 21, 2014

Aug 30, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) runs against the Clemson Tigers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Clemson 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

The Minnesota Vikings are looking to move past the Adrian Peterson child abuse case as quickly as they can, which means it’s growing more and more likely that the former MVP has played his final game with the team. But it’s not like the Vikings are replacing the backup kicker here, the team would be cutting loose the best running backs in the game and one of the all-time greats.

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For a team that doesn’t spend big in free agency and prefers to build through the draft, the Vikings are looking at the reality of drafting a young player in the first-round to replace one of the greatest running backs of all-time. So it goes without saying, he’d better be a good prospect.

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press wonders if the Minnesota Vikings could use a high draft pick to replace Adrian Peterson this spring, taking either Georgia running back Todd Gurley or Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon in the first round.

"It’s clear the Vikings will need to acquire a front-line running back for next season, but that would be difficult through free agency because teams re-sign valuable playersRunning backs Todd Gurley of Georgia and Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin are considered first-round draft picks but not top-five picks."

There hasn’t been a running back drafted in the first round since Trent Richardson back in 201 and since then the value of the position has changed. But the Vikings cannot get rid of Peterson and then not replace him with a flashy player, and taking a running back in the first round this upcoming offseason might be something that not only pleases the fan base but works out in the end too.

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