These days in Buffalo, nothing comes as much of a surprise.
From Doug Marrone opting out to the arrival of Rex Ryan and Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills fans have learned to expect the unexpected in 2015.
Would a trade for Adrian Peterson come as a shock?
The concept has become a hot topic this week after Peterson's agent and a Minnesota Vikings executive were involved in an altercation at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in which Peterson's agent told the Vikings official that his client would never again play in Minnesota.
That, along with a court ruling in Peterson's favor Thursday, has opened the door to speculation on Peterson's future, including the potential for a trade.
Would the Vikings entertain the idea? That's not known. Would the Bills have any interest? That's not clear. But it's still an idea worth exploring. Here are some key points:
Lack of assets for deal: The Bills don't have much trade bait, lacking a first-round pick and having no additional picks in the second or third rounds of this spring's draft. That could limit their chances of landing Peterson even if they were actual suitors.
Bills could absorb cost: What the Bills do have, however, is cap space. They're among the top third of the NFL in 2015 cap space, with close to $30 million by the most accounts. Some of that will be chewed up if Jerry Hughes signs a new deal in the coming weeks, but it's still enough to take on the roughly $13 million due on Peterson's contract this season.
Position of need: Another factor in the equation is a Bills need at running back. With Fred Jackson turning 34 last week and C.J. Spiller potentially departing through free agency, the Bills could use another bruiser in their backfield, especially in offensive coordinator Greg Roman's system. Peterson would be the most ideal fit. Still, this is considered a deep draft class for running backs, and the Bills could find a younger back than Peterson at a much lower cost in the middle rounds, helping to fill their need at that position.
It's important to note that any Peterson-to-Buffalo trade is pure water-cooler talk at this point. Yet in an offseason when nothing seems to be off the table in Buffalo, it's a discussion worth having for the Bills and their fans.