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Running back Adrian Peterson is poised to become a free agent after the Minnesota Vikings declined his 2017 contract option on Tuesday. Check out some of the top upcoming unrestricted free agents in the following gallery.
Running back Adrian Peterson is poised to become a free agent after the Minnesota Vikings declined his 2017 contract option on Tuesday. Check out some of the top upcoming unrestricted free agents in the
DT Chris Baker
2016 team: Washington Redskins
Age: 29
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles (7 for loss), 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
Notes: Baker is a scheme-diverse solid run defender with 39 starts over the last three years.
DT Chris Baker
2016 team: Washington Redskins
Age: 29
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles (7 for loss), 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
Notes: Baker is a scheme-diverse solid run
RB Le’Veon Bell
2016 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 24
2015 Stats: 261 rushes for 1,268 yards and 7 touchdowns; 75 receptions for 616 yards and 2 touchdowns
Notes: Perhaps the best overall running back in the game when healthy, there’s no chance Bell hits the open market. Look for him to get tagged if a long-term deal can’t be worked out.
Update: The Steelers placed the exclusive franchise tag on Bell on Feb. 27.
RB Le’Veon Bell
2016 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 24
2015 Stats: 261 rushes for 1,268 yards and 7 touchdowns; 75 receptions for 616 yards and 2 touchdowns
Notes: Perhaps the best overall running back in the
CB A.J. Bouye
2016 team: Houston Texans
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 62 total tackles (2 for loss), interception, 16 passes defensed, sack
Notes: The former undrafted free agent had a breakout campaign in a contract year in 2016, which could mean he’s an ascendant star or buyer beware.
CB A.J. Bouye
2016 team: Houston Texans
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 62 total tackles (2 for loss), interception, 16 passes defensed, sack
Notes: The former undrafted free agent had a breakout campaign in a contract year
CB Stephon Gilmore
2016 team: Buffalo Bills
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 12 passes defensed
Notes: The former first-round pick is a bit of a boom-or-bust player, but coming off a career high in interceptions, he could command big money on the open market.
CB Stephon Gilmore
2016 team: Buffalo Bills
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 12 passes defensed
Notes: The former first-round pick is a bit of a boom-or-bust player, but coming off a
LB Dont’a Hightower
2016 team: New England Patriots
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 65 total tackles (1 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Nagging injuries have been a concern, but Hightower’s play during the postseason showed how much of a difference-maker he could be.
LB Dont’a Hightower
2016 team: New England Patriots
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 65 total tackles (1 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Nagging injuries have been a
LB Melvin Ingram
2016 team: San Diego Chargers
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 60 total tackles (10 for loss), 8 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 5 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles
Notes: Ingram teamed with rookie Joey Bosa to give the Bolts a fearsome pass-rush duo in 2016. He’s a candidate for the franchise tag if a long-term deal can’t be worked out.
Update: The Chargers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Ingram on Feb. 28.
LB Melvin Ingram
2016 team: San Diego Chargers
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 60 total tackles (10 for loss), 8 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 5 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles
Notes: Ingram teamed with rookie Joey Bosa to
SS Tony Jefferson
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 92 total tackles (13 for loss), 5 passes defensed, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: The former undrafted free agent has developed into a top-notch run-stuffing safety in Arizona and could earn a big payday on the open market if the Cardinals let him get there.
SS Tony Jefferson
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 92 total tackles (13 for loss), 5 passes defensed, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: The former
LB Chandler Jones
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 49 total tackles (15 for loss), 11 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: After trading away a second-round pick to acquire Jones from the Patriots last offseason, the Cardinals will slap the franchise tag on him this year.
Update: The Cardinals placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jones on Feb. 27.
LB Chandler Jones
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 49 total tackles (15 for loss), 11 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: After trading
OG Ronald Leary
2016 team: Dallas Cowboys
Age: 27
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Leary, on the other hand, is a premier run blocker who became expendable in Dallas after they drafted La’el Collins in 2015.
OG Ronald Leary
2016 team: Dallas Cowboys
Age: 27
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Leary, on the other hand, is a premier run blocker who became expendable in Dallas after they drafted La’el Collins in 2015.
DT Dontari Poe
2016 team: Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 27 total tackles (1 for loss), 1.5 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Poe’s jump-pass touchdown versus Denver in Week 16 may be fans’ overriding memory of Poe, but with Berry likely to be franchised, it’s possible the run-stuffer could enter the open market.
DT Dontari Poe
2016 team: Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 27 total tackles (1 for loss), 1.5 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Poe’s jump-pass touchdown versus Denver in
WR Terrelle Pryor
2016 team: Cleveland Browns
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and 4 touchdowns
Notes: The former quarterback broke out in 2016 and looked like one of the few above average players on Cleveland’s roster. With over $100 million in cap space, expect them to work something out.
WR Terrelle Pryor
2016 team: Cleveland Browns
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and 4 touchdowns
Notes: The former quarterback broke out in 2016 and looked like one of the few above average
DT Kawann Short
2016 team: Carolina Panthers
Age: 28
2015 Stats: 55 total tackles (12 for loss), 6 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Short’s 2016 season didn’t quite live up to his monster 11-sack 2015 campaign, but he’ll likely still earn a franchise tag from the Panthers.
Update: The Panthers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Short on Feb. 27.
DT Kawann Short
2016 team: Carolina Panthers
Age: 28
2015 Stats: 55 total tackles (12 for loss), 6 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Short’s 2016 season didn’t quite live up to
OG Larry Warford
2016 team: Detroit Lions
Age: 25
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Warford isn’t a star, but with 57 solid starts over four NFL seasons and still in the prime of his career, he should earn decent money on the open market.
OG Larry Warford
2016 team: Detroit Lions
Age: 25
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Warford isn’t a star, but with 57 solid starts over four NFL seasons and still in the prime of his career, he should earn decent money on
DT Brandon Williams
2016 team: Baltimore Ravens
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 51 total tackles (4 for loss), sack, 2 quarterback hits, pass defensed
Notes: A run-stuffing nose tackle, look for Williams to command a deal similar to the five-year, $46.25 million contract Damon Harrison got with the Giants last year.
DT Brandon Williams
2016 team: Baltimore Ravens
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 51 total tackles (4 for loss), sack, 2 quarterback hits, pass defensed
Notes: A run-stuffing nose tackle, look for Williams to command a deal
OG Kevin Zeitler
2016 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: One of the most balanced guards in the league, the former first-round pick should be highly coveted on the open market, assuming he gets there.
OG Kevin Zeitler
2016 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: One of the most balanced guards in the league, the former first-round pick should be highly coveted on the open market, assuming he
The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday that they would not exercise the 2017 contract option on running back Adrian Peterson, making the four-time first-team All-Pro a free agent unless Peterson and the Vikings can agree to a new deal before the start of free agency on March 9.
“Adrian is an important part of the Minnesota Vikings organization,” said Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. “We will continue to have conversations with his representatives and leave our future options open while determining what is best for both parties moving forward.”
The prospect of Peterson hitting the open market immediately led to fans of various NFL franchises — including the Seahawks — to ponder whether or not he’d be a good fit with their organization.
RELATED: Hawks’ Sherman offers alternative facts on run-in with reporter
Seattle’s running back woes in 2016, when an NFL-record 18 players registered a carry for the team, were well documented. The physical Thomas Rawls and versatile C.J. Prosise seem like a potent duo moving forward, but neither was able to stay healthy last year.
The same could be said of Peterson, who missed 13 games in 2016 with a torn meniscus. In 2015, however, he rushed for 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In addition to worries about aging and injuries, any team signing Peterson would also have to likely deal with some blowback following the suspension that cost him most of the 2014 season. Peterson was indicted for reckless or negligent injury of child when photos surfaced of injuries to his then-4-year-old son that were inflicted by Peterson’s use of a switch.
Peterson’s pedigree among NFL running backs is nearly unmatched. He trails only Frank Gore among the NFL’s active rushing leaders and is 16th all time with 11,747 rushing yards and 10th in rushing touchdowns with 97.
RELATED: Franchise tag takes big names off NFL free-agent market
So, would you like to see the Seahawks pursue him if he indeed becomes an unrestricted free agent? Vote in the Twitter poll below:
Would you like to see the #Seahawks pursue running back Adrian Peterson?
The Seahawks rank 10th in the NFL if he becomes a free agent according to Las Vegas sports book Bovada, with 14-to-1 odds. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead Bovada’s odds at 3-to-1, while the Vikings, New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs come in at 5-to-1.
With Rawls and Prosise both in and out of the lineup, Seattle’s rushing attack limped to it’s worst performance since 2010 last year, averaging under 100 yards per contest.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.
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