4 former Vikings who won’t be back for the 2021 season
By Adam Patrick
Adrian Peterson – RB
Obviously, the Vikings are set at the top of their running back depth chart with Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison.
However, the departure of Mike Boone earlier this year left an opening at the No. 3 spot behind Cook and Mattison. Minnesota re-signed Ameer Abdullah, but some wondered if the team might look to still add some more experience to their backfield this offseason.
With Adrian Peterson being a free agent and still wanting to continue his NFL career, some believed there might be a chance of him returning to play for the Vikings this year. After the recent 2021 draft though, that possibility went out the door.
On the final day of this year’s draft, Minnesota decided to use a fourth-round pick on former Iowa State running back Kene Nwangwu. Even though Nwangwu is expected to not do much more than return kicks or punts in 2021, his arrival adds more running back depth to the Vikings, and it comes at a low cost.
While some would have enjoyed seeing Peterson potentially end his career in a Minnesota uniform, the team drafting a running back this year pretty much ended any chance of him returning for the upcoming season.