NFL Minnesota Vikings

5 Veterans Who May Not Return For the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings: 5 Veterans Who May Not Be Back

Mike Zimmer Minnesota Vikings
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings look like a team on the rise after going 7-9 in Mike Zimmer's first season as head coach.

With some notable holes to fill and some tough decisions coming, here are five veterans who may not be back with the Vikings next season.

5. WR Greg Jennings

Greg Jennings Minnesota Vikings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

5. WR Greg Jennings

Greg Jennings, Minnesota Vikings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Jennings is by far the most unlikely player on this list to be cut, but his production over the last two seasons (127 receptions and 10 touchdowns) has not justified his contract. A restructuring to reduce his base salary for 2015 ($8.9 million)) is likely, but an outright release can't be ruled out.

4. LB Chad Greenway

Chad Greenway Minnesota Vikings
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

4. LB Chad Greenway

Chad Greenway Minnesota Vikings
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Greenway said he wants to return to the Vikings next year, but multiple injuries this past season, a slow decline in his play and an $8.8 million salary cap hit for 2015 are working against that possibility.

3. FB Jerome Felton

Jerome Felton Minnesota Vikings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

3. FB Jerome Felton

Jerome Felton Minnesota Vikings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Felton had a minimized role in 2014. If he doesn't opt out of his contract on his own, the Vikings are unlikely to pay him $2.5 million next season.

2. OG Charlie Johnson

Charlie Johnson Minnesota Vikings
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2. OG Charlie Johnson

Charlie Johnson Minnesota Vikings
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson is coming off a poor season at left guard, and the full $2.5 million he is due to make next season is not guaranteed. An upgrade can certainly be found elsewhere.

1. RB Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings
Dilip Vishwanat-Getty Images

1. RB Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings
Dilip Vishwanat-Getty Images

Even without the off the field drama surrounding him this past season, the Vikings were going to have a tough decision to make regarding Peterson this offseason. If he is not willing to restructure a contract that carries a $15.4 million cap hit next year, and his quote from an interview with ESPN.com earlier this month suggested just that, I think Peterson is as good as gone.

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