Vikings' Adrian Peterson: Will not have option picked up

Peterson (knee/groin) will not have his 2017 option picked up by the Vikings.

Analysis:

Peterson would have been owed $17.75 million in 2017, a salary hit that the Vikings were not willing to take considering the running back's volatile injury situation. He played only three games in 2016 due to poor health and is 32 years old, which is up there for an NFL running back, especially a physical one like Peterson. There is still a chance he stays in Minnesota by restructuring his contract, but if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement, Peterson will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent on March 9. He certainly still holds value as a runner and veteran presence, and he will be one of the more spotlighted players in free agency if he enters the pool.