Adrian Peterson still believes he is the best running back in the NFL

Free agent running back Adrian Peterson still feels like he is the best running back in the NFL. However, he likely won’t land with the Minnesota Vikings.

There was a time when Adrian Peterson was widely regarded as the best running back in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings franchise leader in rushing yards holds the league’s single-game rushing record and nearly shattered the mark for most rushing yards in a season, and could still be a valuable asset for a team who needs help at the position.

However, the man who was formerly known as “Purple Jesus” is still a free agent this year and hopes to land with a team contending for a Super Bowl during the 2018 NFL season and believes he can help a franchise get to the promised land.

In a recent article by Tom Pelissero on NFL.com, the star running back confirmed that he is healthy after missing much of last season with the Saints and Cardinals due to a neck injury. Plus, he says he is ready to play for a contender now that his knee and neck shouldn’t be a major concern.

"“I’m healthy and I’m ready to roll. If you want someone to help you win a championship and be productive — be very productive — you know how to contact me.”"

Confidence is something Peterson has never appeared to lack. The NFL is a league where players have to believe they are the best at what they do in order to remain competitive and keep pushing themselves. And Adrian still believes he is the best at what he does.

"“I know once I get back out there, I’ll be blessed with a healthy season and show people I’m still the best in the league.”"

Being the best running back in the league would be a big challenge. While players like Le’Veon Bell, Todd Gurley, and David Johnson continue to prove themselves on a regular basis, others like Alvin Kamara, Leonard Fournette, and Kareem Hunt have exploded onto the scene and shown the value of players in the backfield who can run, catch, and block.

Minnesota Vikings

Odds are that Peterson will find a suitor this offseason, the only question is which franchise will add the services of a 33-year-old running back who has missed 19 games over the last two seasons. Still, the article states that “a couple teams have called about his services.”

Vikings fans hoping to see Peterson return to the team may be out of luck.

Not only does Minnesota not have a lot of salary cap to sign more players if they want to keep their current talent around, but the team has put the future hopes at running back on the shoulders of Dalvin Cook and kept Latavius Murray around as their backup plan.

Adrian Peterson will likely end up on a team on the fringe of making the playoffs who don’t quite have as many great options when it comes to players to run the ball. Squads like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts could use the services of an established running back, but may not be the kind of contender that the star running back is looking for.

Next: Projecting the Vikings' final 2018 roster (Post-draft)

Seeing where Adrian Peterson lands will be an interesting story to watch develop. There is no doubt that he is ready to play and wants a championship. Hopefully, a team in the hunt for a Lombardi Trophy can find a spot for the veteran rusher.