Report: If Vikings don’t trade Adrian Peterson by NFL Draft, they will keep him

According to Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com, there is a strong belief that if the Minnesota Vikings are going to trade Adrian Peterson, it will happen prior to or during next week’s NFL Draft.

If it does not happen by then, the feeling is the team will keep the disgruntled running back.

The source said if the Vikings want to trade Peterson, they never will have more leverage than during the April 30-May 2 draft. The source said Minnesota could be able to entice a team once Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley, the two top backs in the draft, are off the board.

This is not the first time the draft has been viewed as a deadline, and it makes perfect sense. If the Vikings deal their franchise player, they would undoubtedly and understandably like to use the draft as a way to replenish their roster.

As noted in Tomasson’s article, a source says there is a list of six teams still in the mix for Peterson. Included are the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Most of the teams in that group have been linked to Peterson at one time or another this offseason, though their levels of interest and willingness to meet the Vikings’ reported asking price of at least a first-round pick and more is unknown.

However, if that is indeed what the Vikings are seeking, the list of potential suitors may be down to five.

Cowboys' EVP/COO Stephen Jones told 105.3 in Dallas: “I don't see us using any picks to trade for veteran players.” So there's that.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2015

Peterson, 30, has rushed for 10,190 yards and 86 touchdowns since being selected seventh overall in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma.