5 teams Adrian Peterson can play for in 2017
By John Buhler
3. New England Patriots
Though head coach Bill Belichick is notorious for letting players on the decline leave Foxboro a year early rather than a year too late, the New England Patriots just might be brilliant enough to take a flyer on a player like Peterson.
New England thinks four steps ahead of everybody else. The Patriots have the best NFL scouting department in the league and it’s not even debatable. New England continues to bring in undervalued players and turn them into stars.
Peterson is a fading star, but could have value late in 2017 when New England begins its post-Thanksgiving AFC Playoffs run. A dominant running game in cold weather has helped New England be a staple in the AFC Championship Game the last five seasons.
This franchise did sign another 30+ year-old running back last winter in Steven Jackson to help give balance to a bubble screen-reliant Patriots offense. One could argue that the running game becomes even more important in 2017 for New England. Tom Brady will be 40 and Jimmy Garoppolo will be in the final year of this rookie deal.
Peterson to the Patriots just feels like a move New England would be willing to make just to make the rest of the NFL look foolish. Joining New England ensures that Peterson would make the final four in 2017.