Vikings sign former Raiders RB Latavius Murray
The Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent running back Latavius Murray two weeks after letting Adrian Peterson head to free agency.
We have signed RB Latavius Murray (@LataviusM).
?: https://t.co/MJlzFJ4oNK pic.twitter.com/EjrfcNdmB3
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 16, 2017
The move comes after the Vikings declined a 2017 option on Peterson's contract, making the longtime running back an unrestricted free agent and opening up a position in Minnesota's backfield.
Murray played three seasons with the Oakland Raiders after he was drafted in the sixth round out of Central Florida in 2013. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound back has 543 rushes for 2,278 yards (4.2 average) and 20 touchdowns as well as 91 receptions for 639 yards in his career. Murray missed the 2013 season after suffering a foot injury in training camp, but he played in all but three games for the Raiders from 2014-16.
Murray had his best season for Oakland in 2015 when he finished sixth in the NFL with 1,066 rushing yards and was named to his first Pro Bowl.
Minnesota hosted a visit to running back Eddie Lacy earlier in March, but the former Packers running back signed with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.
The newest Minnesota Viking joins the running back ranks of Jerick McKinnon, C.J. Ham and Bishop Sankey and will likely be the starter once training camp begins.
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