Cardinals GM Steve Keim: Michael Floyd trade rumors ‘not true’

Draft day in the NFL has arrived.

In addition to a couple hundred new players entering the league over the three-day event, the draft has served as the unofficial cut-off date for a potential trade of All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson.

In a nutshell, Peterson wants to be traded, but the Vikings have repeatedly said they have no interest in trading him.

That hasn’t stopped the speculation, and the Arizona Cardinals continue to be mentioned in the mix.

NFL insider Chris Mortensen appeared on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike Thursday morning and again floated the Peterson-to-Arizona possibility, this time with a new wrinkle.

“The fact that Adrian wants to be traded is not going to be the reason they trade him,” Mortensen said. “I agree, the Cowboys are not going to be the team. But the Arizona Cardinals, they’ve got Michael Floyd they’re dangling out there, but it’s going to take a lot.

“I’ve always thought that Arizona would be the favorite.”

Interestingly enough, the Cardinals picked up Floyd’s fifth-year option Wednesday, keeping him under contract through the 2016 season.

But this is the first time Floyd’s name has shown up as a trade chip in any Peterson rumors.

Floyd, who played his college ball at Notre Dame, is a Minnesota native. He was a two-time Minnesota High School Player of the Year at Cretin-Derham High in St. Paul.

With only hours until the draft begins Cardinals GM Steve Keim knocks down these rumors.

“Not true,” Keim said on Doug & Wolf Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Thursday morning. “We see Michael Floyd as a core fixture here.”

Floyd led the Cardinals with 841 receiving yards in 2014, but that was 200 yards less than the number he posted the previous season. His 47 receptions were third-most on the team.

“Throughout his career here he’s made some big plays for us, but I don’t think it’s any secret he’s got to improve in consistency,” Keim said. “We expect big things out of Michael in 2015.”

Mortensen did say he’s still leaning toward Peterson not being traded, but it remains a possibility as the draft nears.