Three teams who should trade for Adrian Peterson

The NFL reinstated Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, so now the trade rumors can really take off in earnest.

Adrian Peterson was already eligible to be traded but now that he’s been reinstated by the NFL, effective April 17 the future Hall of Fame running back should expect to hear his name bandied about in numerous trade rumors.

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The Vikings have remained steadfast in their unwillingness to trade the perennial Pro Bowl running back who is the center of their offense and they are already looking forward to him rejoining the team, releasing a statement on the team’s official website.

“The Minnesota Vikings have been informed by the NFL that Adrian Peterson has been reinstated. We look forward to Adrian re-joining the Vikings.”

That doesn’t sound like a team anxious to part ways with Peterson and see him run for 100 yards a game elsewhere, but this could also be the game of poker that the Vikings are playing with Peterson and his agent. Plenty of teams could have a use for Peterson if he became available, which is something they don’t want to do. But which teams would be smart to blow the Vikings away with a trade proposal?

1. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys lost the defending rushing champion, DeMarco Murray in free agency and signed oft-injured Darren McFadden to help replace him but relying on McFadden to stay healthy and produce at a high-level is what got the Oakland Raiders in trouble. They could be in a position to draft a running back like Melvin Gordon in the first round or select a back in the middle rounds, but no one is going to be the type of back that Peterson can be behind that dominant offensive line. The money would be a complicated issue to fit under the salary cap, but deals can be restructured and players can be released to acquire the Palestine, TX native.

2. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals need a power back in this offense to complement Andre Ellington who can’t be the punishing runner that Bruce Arians wants. They could be another team in the market for a running back in the first round of the draft and would jump at Todd Gurley if he were available. Gurley is younger and would be cheaper than Peterson, but he’s also coming off a torn ACL suffered last November and if the Cardinals aren’t convinced he can be 100 percent in September, they could choose to roll the dice on the proven commodity, despite his advancing age.

3. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers let Ryan Matthews walk in free agency and have a depth chart featuring Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver and Donald Brown at running back. The Chargers are in a win-now mode with Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates and Eric Weddle among their marquee free agents at the end of the 2015 season, so why not go all-in and trade for Peterson and make a run at the Super Bowl?

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