ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The last time the Oakland Raiders saw Adrian Peterson, he had just run all over them to the tune of 203 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries on Nov. 15, 2015.
Tempting, right? Especially now that Peterson will be a free agent once the legal tampering period begins March 7 after the Vikings announced Tuesday they would not pick up the running back’s option for 2017.
A healthy Peterson (he missed all but three games last season with a torn meniscus and rushed for 72 yards on 37 attempts) sharing the backfield with franchise quarterback Derek Carr, who will be coming back from a broken right fibula, running behind a massive offensive line that had three Pro Bowlers -- left tackle Donald Penn, left guard Kelechi Osemele and center Rodney Hudson, with receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree keeping defenses honest?
Yeah, that would make first-year offensive coordinator Todd Downing just as giddy as it would make AFC West defensive coordinators fidgety.
Peterson, who already has what many see as a Hall of Fame resume, would be an upgrade from Latavius Murray, who is also primed to hit free agency next week after scoring 12 touchdowns last season and going to the Pro Bowl after the 2015 season.
And therein lies the rub.
Murray, 27, made a "mere" $675,000 in base salary in Oakland last season and is in line for a big raise, and many observers do not see Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie ponying up for Murray, who, despite his productivity last season near the goal line, averaged 4.0 yards per carry and only went over 100 yards rushing twice.
Peterson, meanwhile, turns 32 on March 21 and might want a salary comparable to what he was due this fall in Minnesota -- some $18 million in salary and bonus.
That is just too rich for Oakland’s blood.
So how might the Raiders, who had the NFL’s No. 6-ranked rushing attack, woo Peterson, who has only played one full season since 2012, when he rushed for 2,097 yards, second-most in a single season in NFL history to Eric Dickerson’s 2,105-yard season in 1984?
Keep in mind, the Raiders might have about $44 million in cap space, but they also have to get in front of Carr and NFL defensive player of the year Khalil Mack, both of whom are entering the final years of their rookie contracts.
An incentive-laden deal for Peterson, who missed two games in 2013 and all but one of the 2013 season while suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for child abuse charges, would be one way.
A chance for Peterson, who has led the league in rushing three times and has 11,747 rushing yards, 97 rushing TDs and five receiving scores while averaging 4.9 yards per carry, to chase a Super Bowl ring with a rising Raiders team for a couple of years with change-of-pace Mighty Mite running backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington at his side would be another hook.
Carr has campaigned for bringing his friend Murray back, but also allowed on Sirius XM Mad Dog Radio on Tuesday that if Murray leaves, Oakland checking out Peterson would be a fine idea.
"If (Peterson) has to go elsewhere," Carr said, "I don’t see why we don’t take a look at it at least."
Make no mistake, Carr and Mack are the faces of the franchise, but with coach Jack Del Rio decrying the lack of "big-boy ball" from the running game at times last season, Peterson would give the Raiders rushing attack a decidedly adult look.
Just at the right price.