Dallas Cowboys: Is Adrian Peterson a post-draft target?
By Carl Daley
With the Dallas Cowboys salary cap space growing soon, is free agent running back Adrian Peterson’s final stop in Dallas?
The second wave of NFL free agency is right around the corner. After next week’s draft free agents like running back Latavius Murray, cornerback Jason McCourty and future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson should find homes. And the Dallas Cowboys should take that opportunity to improve their team and fill any holes left on their roster post-draft.
A long term deal with All-Pro offensive guard Zack Martin will be the most pressing issue following the draft. But adding free agents will definitely be at the forefront of the minds of most Cowboy fans.
The way the draft falls will tell a lot about the players the Cowboys could spend money on as anything is likely to happen. Trades, players falling to them, injuries; plenty of things could derail their roster-building strategy, which will need to be flexible. That includes adding players via free agency.
What if the Cowboys are on the clock and Alabama tight end O.J. Howard is still available? What if the top teams pass on running backs entirely and Dallas is on the clock? What if Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams falls to Dallas at 28?
All of those things and more could effect the way the Cowboys view the rest of the offseason. I would expect at least one veteran pass rusher to be signed via free agency. I’m not sure who that will be although Elvis Dumervil is available.
Cornerback is a position the team will likely look at as there are some talented vets available on the free agent market. But running back might be the deepest position. With Matt Asiata, Peterson, LeGarrette Blount, Murray, and DeAngelo Williams all available the Cowboys could find another back to compete for snaps at the position.
Alfred Morris has struggled to even get on the field, why not bring in some competition for him? Peterson has yet to find a team but it seems as if he has yet to settle on a destination. I am sure the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, among others would gladly sign AP but he may have other landing spots in mind.
Jerry Jones will be tied to Peterson forever as he has shown interest in the legendary running back while he was still on the Minnesota Vikings. Now Peterson is a free agent and might be signed for less than $5 million per season, if it is the right situation. That is interesting especially if you consider that Peterson wanted to end his career in Texas.
The Cowboys should be more than willing to pay that price as both Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris showed their age and fondness for injuries last season. Peterson coming to the Cowboys would change the entire dynamic of the NFC and Dallas could potentially run a two back system. The Tennessee Titans had great success with this as they ate up the clock and pounded teams into oblivion with the use of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry.
An Ezekiel Elliott/Peterson tandem would be incredibly tough to stop. If Dallas skips adding a running back in the draft and signs Peterson that could be one of the smartest moves to make. The only offensive positions worthy of selection on draft day are wide receiver, tight end, and offensive lineman.
Next: Dallas Cowboys 2017 NFL Draft: Seven Round Mock 11.0
With the team missing out on a running back why not select a veteran looking to win a Super Bowl ring? It would be a move that would make the Cowboys the favorites once again in the media and could give them the mental edge heading into the regular season.