Adrian Peterson 'the kind of guy' Arizona Cardinals could target in free agency if available

We are still a month away from free agency in the NFL, but a big name came up locally as a possible target for the Arizona Cardinals.

AZCentral's Kent Somers, a guest on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Monday, identified Adrian Peterson as a possible target in the offseason to improve at the running back position and team up with Andre Ellington.

"I don't want to get Cardinals fans all excited, but the one thing I'm really intrigued with what's going to happen this offseason is what happens with Adrian Peterson," he said to Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta on the air, noting there are some unknowns still -- whether he will be released, whether he will win his appeal and whether he even hits the market, all big hurdles at this point. "Because if he's on the market, it wouldn't surprise me that he's the kind of guy Steve Keim and Bruce Arians would go after."

Arizona did not get the production from the running back position they hoped to. Ellington played through injury before landing on injured reserve and, while gaining 1000 yards from scrimmage on the season, only gained 3.3 yards per carry.

Jonathan Dwyer, signed last offseason to be the other main ball carrier, only played two games before a domestic incident led to the end of his season. The team got some production late in the year from Kerwynn Williams, but he won't likely be a guy the Cardinals count on having a big year in 2015. It could happen, but the team will probably not bank on that.

Somers said Peterson "would be really intriguing to them and how bizarre would it be that, after getting criticized so many years  for not drafting him and taking Levi Brown, that they get a shot at him.

"I'm not saying that's going to happen, but if he hits the market, I think the Cardinals would be real tempted to go after him," he explained.

Somers did mention a couple of other running back names we could see pop up here -- C.J. Spiller and Justin Forsett. He also tossed the name Melvin Gordon as a possible guy we could see from the NFL Draft.

Peterson is an intriguing name, but there are some strikes against him. He will be turning 30 years old, which is the magic number for running backs in terms of drop in production. While he played little last year because of an abuse scandal, he might see himself suspended to start the 2015 season. Arizona already will potentially be looking at missing Daryl Washington for part of 2015 because of his felony guilty plea to aggravated assault and also had the domestic violence charges against Dwyer last season.

Would they want to add Peterson, who had child abuse charges against him?

Peterson's name has also come up as a guy who would probably end up with the Dallas Cowboys.

Peterson certainly would make an intriguing name for the Cardinals.

Would it make sense? Could the Cardinals afford him and would he make an impact? Would you as a fan welcome a guy with the recent issues he has had?