Pete Carroll made it clear in January getting the run game back on track will be a priority for the Seattle Seahawks this offseason.

But Adrian Peterson is not the answer.

The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday they will not be picking up Peterson's option, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent on March 9.

Last year, the Seahawks finished 23rd in rushing efficiency, and the team's running backs averaged 3.83 YPC (24th).

There were several reasons why the run game struggled. According to coaches, Russell Wilson's injuries were the biggest factor. Wilson ran for a career-low 259 yards because of ankle and knee injuries. Clearly, the threat of him as a runner has helped the ground game over the years. But he wasn't able to contribute much in that respect in 2016.

Meanwhile, the run blocking clearly needs a lot of work. Seahawks running backs averaged 2.26 yards before contact, which ranked 18th.

And the team was hurt by injuries in the backfield. Seattle had 18 different players carry the ball. Former running backs coach Sherman Smith said Marshawn Lynch made a lot of wrong things look right when he was the back. The Seahawks didn't have anyone capable of doing that in 2016.

General manager John Schneider often points out that the organization prides itself on leaving no stone unturned in terms of player acquisitions and roster upgrades. But going after Peterson doesn't make a lot of sense right now.

Peterson turns 32 in March. In the past 46 years (since the merger), only four running backs 32 or older have run for 1,000 yards and averaged at least 4.0 YPC. Granted, Peterson is a once-in-a-lifetime physical specimen, but is it worth committing money to an aging running back when other areas of the roster (offensive line, cornerback) need to be addressed?

Essentially, the Seahawks would be gambling on Peterson being the exception. And they are not in great position to make that bet, especially considering that he's still expected to command significant money.

Seattle drafted three running backs last year and still has Thomas Rawls on the roster. The Seahawks very well could add a back or two in this year's draft, which is loaded with ball-carriers. Adding a veteran to a low-risk deal could be an option as well.

But committing money to Peterson and taking a risk on a 32-year-old running back is not the move to fix their running game.