The smoke around Adrian Peterson and the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t seem to go away. While it’s clear that one of the Cowboys’ highest priorities is to add another running back to the roster, I can’t help but think that even considering Peterson is the wrong way to go.
Jerry is going for it, and he probably should. Tony Romo’s window of winning a possible Super Bowl only has a few years left in it. Dallas has a great offensive line, quality wide outs and a very good tight end. A running back is desperately needed.
Fine, Jerry. Understood. But if a running back was obviously wanted and needed on your roster for 2015, why not franchise DeMarco Murray and sign Dez Bryant to longterm money? I mean, there certainly was quality chemistry on this team with DeMarco in the backfield.
OK, sorry to bring up a moot point now. We all know what happened around those possibilities. Time to move on and accept where we are at the end of April.
We’re on the same page with you, Jerry. Yes, you need to get a running back. And he needs to be instant impact this coming fall, starting in the backfield and producing behind this line. But we’d prefer if his age started with a 2 instead of a 3.
First of all, what is it going to take to trade with Minnesota to obtain Peterson? Whatever it is, that’s too much. Not for a 30-year-old with mileage on his tires that is owed almost $13 million this season, $15 million next year and $17 million in the last season of his contract.
Whatever the trade price is, it certainly will include draft picks of some sort. Those are assets that simply cannot be given away like candy.
Here’s an idea though – if Jerry wants to make a big deal, one that will impact his club in a positive way and make a huge impact on his team for years to come, he should trade up. I would much rather have Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon join the Cowboys roster. Gurley is clearly the better player, even with an ACL injury that shortened his senior year at Georgia.
Most mock drafts have Gurley going in the mid-teens next Thursday night. But several have Gordon lasting into the 20’s. The Cowboys own the 27th pick, and Gordon would be a fine addition if Gurley’s spot is too rich for their blood.
But running back is one of a few needs for this Cowboys team. The 10-game suspension of Greg Harvey leaves Dallas with another glaring need for a pass rusher, and depth along the defensive line is needed, as well as secondary help.
So what are Jerry and the Cowboys to do? Well, first of all – don’t make a dumb deal with Minnesota for Peterson. I would target Gordon, knowing that it will probably take trading up a couple of picks to select him.
There’s just too much smoke coming from Valley Ranch on the Peterson rumors. Here’s hoping that the draft war room isn’t already on fire. Jerry might need more than a fire extinguisher to put that one out.
