After Adrian Peterson went down in down in Week 2 last season with an apparent knee injury, his career automatically was lit up with question marks. Today, it was no surprise to see the Vikings decline the option to pick up the 31 year-old running back in a year where not many teams are looking for a starting running back. However, Peterson has decided to test the free agent market to try to find a team for his dwindling NFL career.

Many teams have come out of the water in hopes of signing Peterson. Teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers,Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, and Oakland Raiders have all expressed interest. Nevertheless, the Vikings shouldn’t be counted out as a good backup plan for Peterson. $18 million may be a little much for an aging running back coming off a season ending knee injury and it would certainly be a risk for the franchise (also Peterson is averaging nine missed games per season over the past three seasons). Maybe the Vikings could get him for a cheaper price? I do not see the the Vikings taking too much of a risk here, as injuries have plagued their team the last couple of years, but it definitely is an option that wouldn’t surprise many. However, Peterson’s father, Nelson, said that Peterson would like to stay with the Vikings if Minnesota addresses its weaknesses along the offensive line, and as Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said, improving the offensive line is a priority this offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly shown interest in signing Peterson as well, as Jerry Jones has stated that the franchise will pursue Peterson when he becomes free on March 9 (Also, Peterson’s hometown is two hours from Dallas). It’s fun to think of the two-headed monster Dallas would have, but it is highly unlikely. Dallas hasn’t figured out what to do with Tony Romo yet and there little space to maneuver in their salary, meaning a Ezekiel-Adrian backfield is more of a dream than reality for the Cowboys. However, just imagine the run game Dallas would have along with their offensive line, certainly scary for opposing defences.

Another interesting option for Peterson is the Oakland Raiders. After coming off a 12-5 season, the Raiders look to be on the upside following Jack Del Rio’s first season as head coach. If Derek Carr didn’t break his leg in the final weeks of the season, the Raiders were a serious contender in the AFC. Since Latavius Murray is heading into free-agency this year, the Raiders could have significant cap space to make a move for Peterson. Their success was centered around many things, but a big part of it was their stable offensive line and that’s just what Peterson needs. With their financial and on-the-field problems sorted, Oakland could be a realistic option for Peterson.

The New York Giants also are a contender to land Peterson’s signature. Their releasing of Rashad Jennings sent a signal to many that their pursual of Peterson was a priority in the off-season, since the Giants averaged 88.9 rushing yards per game last season, one of the worst averages in the league. With the aging Eli Manning on the decline, Peterson could be a temporary fix to the backfield problems, but $18 million is a lot for a 31 year old. Nevertheless, it is certainly a realistic option.

Other teams Peterson has mentioned are the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, since Houston is close to Peterson’s home and Tampa Bay will have a lot of salary cap if they release suspended Doug Martin. Now Tampa Bay could be the best option for the franchise and Peterson. They team already has star wide receiver Mike Evans and rising tight end Cameron Brate, so it’s not like they would be shifting their entire offense to compensate for Peterson. With Jameis Winston improving every year, the Bucs could be one player away from something special.

It will be interesting to see how this situation pans out. Peterson’s age will obviously be the biggest factor, but his reputation should at least give him the credibility he deserves. The risk of the aging running back could yield the biggest reward.