Redskins exercise club option on Adrian Peterson’s contract
By Ian Cummings
Adrian Peterson has been a steady player for the unsteady Redskins in recent years, and Ron Rivera has rewarded Peterson with another year under contract.
Between the Washington Redskins collapse in late 2018 and the team’s bottoming out in 2019, there haven’t been many storylines of success in the nation’s capital. But one player who has managed to exceed expectations and outshine the shadow over D.C. is veteran running back Adrian Peterson.
Hopes weren’t exactly high when Peterson was signed in the offseason of 2018, following an ACL injury to second-round running back Derrius Guice. Peterson’s signing was viewed as a rushed move by many, and the then-33-year old back wasn’t expected to maintain a presence on the offense for long.
Fast-forward to today, and Peterson has played 31 of a possible 32 games for the Redskins over the past two seasons. In those seasons, he’s amassed 1,940 yards and twelve touchdowns on 462 carries, good for an average yards per carry of 4.2. In 2019, amidst offensive dysfunction, Peterson rumbled to the tune of 898 yards and five scores on 211 carries.
Peterson has brought a rare amount of durability at a position not known for long shelf lives, and now, heading into his age-35 season, he’ll have financial security again in his corner. Per Adam Schefter, the Redskins have exercised Peterson’s club option for 2020, and he’ll be with the team for at least one more year.
According to ESPN’s John Keim, Peterson’s salary for 2020 will be approximately $2.25 million, and his cap hit will be $3.1 million, signifying minor dead cap penalties, were he to be released before the start of the 2020 regular season. Either way, it’s a low risk proposition for a team that has valued Peterson’s leadership and dependability over the course of his Redskins tenure.
Next. Redskins free agent head-to-head: TE Hooper vs. TE Henry. dark
Peterson doesn’t fit the mold of the modern running back, and he’s never going to be the reason the Redskins win a playoff game. But for a rebuilding team still in search of direction, Peterson is a valuable veteran presence, and a mentor for young, potential-laden running backs like Derrius Guice and Bryce Love. He’ll be back in 2020, and he’ll provide more security and familiarity for a team that needs as much as it can get.