SideLion Report
FanSided

Will the Detroit Lions regret not signing Adrian Peterson?

By Steven Mullenax

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 20: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball against Rashean Mathis #31 of the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of the game on September 20, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Lions 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 20: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball against Rashean Mathis #31 of the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of the game on September 20, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Lions 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After a season where both of their starting running backs struggled with injuries, will the Detroit Lions regret not signing Adrian Peterson this offseason?

The Detroit Lions‘ combination of running backs Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick accounted for a total of 1,610 offensive yards and six touchdowns in 2015. So there were high hopes that the duo would be even more productive last season.

Unfortunately, both running backs struggled with injuries, leaving the Lions with one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL. Abdullah only made it to Week Two last year until he suffered a Lisfranc ligament tear in his foot that cost him the rest of the season. And Riddick was limited to 10 games in 2016 due to wrist and ankle injuries.

Despite their backfield issues, the Lions were still able to post a 9-7 regular season record and earn themselves a wild card berth in the playoffs.

So the question is, how much better would the Lions’ have been last season with a more consistent running game to support quarterback Matthew Stafford?

This offseason, Detroit did little to add to their current crop of running backs. Despite this year’s NFL Draft possessing a very talented group of rookies at the position, the Lions’ elected to ignore those backs entirely.

And via free agency so far, the only player signed by Detroit was former Minnesota Vikings sledgehammer Matt Asiata. But the veteran back, who turns 30-years old next week, isn’t guaranteed to even to make past final cuts.

But it is another Vikings’ running back that was available this offseason that the Lions’ could regret passing up. And that’s seven-time Pro Bowler and former league MVP Adrian Peterson. And although Detroit knows Peterson very well as he’s played for their divisional rival for the past 10 years, the Lions’ ultimately didn’t land him in free agency.

"“I think A.P. has plenty left in the tank,” Lions’ general manager Bob Quinn told the Detroit Free Press. “We’ve kick the tires on I’d say hundreds of players…you can make a list a mile long on guys we’ve called on. It’s just doing our due diligence.”"

Peterson, even at age 32, is a possible franchise-changer. Despite missing a total of 28 games in the past three seasons, A.P. is an athletic freak. Sandwiched between two injury-shorten seasons was a 2015 campaign where Peterson rushed for 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Prior to the NFL Draft in April, Peterson signed a modest two-year, $7 million deal to join the New Orleans Saints. The Saints posted a 7-9 regular season record last year and missed the playoffs. And they already have an established starter in Mark Ingram at the position.

Surely the Lions were a more attractive landing spot for a player like Peterson as they’ve been to the postseason twice in the past three years and play in a division he knows very well. So, at least on the surface, a signing of A.P. in the Motor City made sense.

Next: Ranking the 5 best Lions draft classes of the past 30 years

At this point, the Detroit Lions seemed satisfied to once again place their rushing attack in the hands of two injury-prone players. Which ultimately means quarterback Matthew Stafford will once again have to carry the onus of the Lions’ offense on his shoulders. Only time will tell if Detroit regrets not being more aggressive about signing Adrian Peterson this offseason.

Home/Lions News