NFL Trade Rumors: Vikings want first-round pick for Adrian Peterson

While it still seems unlikely that the Minnesota Vikings will trade Adrian Peterson, there is still a chance they could, and the price is pretty steep

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With running back Adrian Peterson now officially reinstated into the NFL, all eyes are now locked on what could happen with the 30-year-old back, who seems rather intent on resuming his career this season with someone other than the Minnesota Vikings. As we all have come to find out, the only way that can reasonably happen is if the Vikings agree to a trade, which they seem rather reluctant to do.

However, just because they’re reluctant in making the move happen, that doesn’t mean that the possibility is completely off the table. But if they are going to pull the trigger on such a deal, the price for the buyer will be about as steep as it can possibly be.

This morning, ESPN’s Adam Caplan appeared on SportsCenter and he noted that word around the NFL is that if the Vikings are going to seriously consider dealing the former Oklahoma back, then they will be commanding at least a first-round draft pick, with some other compensation thrown in as well. Specifically, the Vikings will be asking for a top-tier cornerback, a clear need on this team if they want to continue their success moving forward.

With this information, the question now turns to whether or not a team should consider caving to the Vikings’ offer and paying this steep price.

Well, they should not, and here’s why…

1) Well, for starters, he’s 30

Even with just his on-the-field accomplishments, putting the child abuse allegations to the side for a moment, when people hear the name Adrian Peterson and their ears perk up. Of course they do, this man is one of the greatest running backs of our generation in a time where the running back position consistently is losing value across the league.

However, what people tend to ignore is the fact that he’s 30 years old. Now when you also couple that with the fact that he has been away from the game for about a year, you really have to ask yourself if paying the kind of price the Vikings are reportedly asking for is really worth it in the long run.

Adrian Peterson is a great football player, but at this point in time, not great enough to start throwing your assets away.

2) Don’t give your No. 1 pick FOR a RB, use it ON a RB

Adrian Peterson really picked a bad year to try and make himself available. No, not because of all the legal issues he faced, but because there are some pretty good running backs that are coming out of this class. As a team executive, you really have to sit down and ask yourself whether you would want to throw a No. 1 pick away and take on the rather large contract that comes with Peterson, or use it on a Todd Gurley or a Melvin Gordon. Even if you maybe have to shift your position in the draft to make that happen, it’s a lot better than paying a 30-year-old.

However, this is the NFL, where we’ve seen a lot of head-scratching deals made throughout the years. So anything really is possible.

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