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Report: Saints, Peterson believed to be closing in on deal worth over $3M

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Peterson may not have to wait until the draft, after all.

The New Orleans Saints and the free-agent running back are believed to be closing in on a deal that would pay him in excess of $3 million for the 2017 season, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing sources.

Peterson, who had his contract option declined by the Minnesota Vikings at the beginning of March, found a particularly soft market upon becoming a free agent for the first time in his career.

New Orleans was one of the few teams that expressed interest, though, and the 32-year-old's price tag is evidently in a range that would entice the club to take a chance on him.

If indeed signed, Peterson would presumably share early down work with Mark Ingram as part of the Saints' backfield rotation.

The skill sets are a bit redundant in that respect, but it'd be a low-risk move for a Saints team looking for some pieces that can help the club make another Super Bowl run with Drew Brees still leading the way.

Peterson is coming off a 2016 campaign in which injuries limited him to just three games. Adding to the question marks, albeit in a small sample size, is the fact that he managed 1.9 yards per carry on his 37 attempts.

The Saints would be hoping that a full offseason to recover will help Peterson recapture the level of play he enjoyed the year prior, where he ran for a league-leading 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns.

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