Might this be the official nail in the coffin for Adrian Peterson’s Vikings career?
Minnesota announced super early Thursday the team signed RB Latavius Murray. The 27-year-old was taken in the sixth round of the 2013 draft by the Oakland Raiders, and has played his entire career in the Bay Area so far.
Minnesota didn’t give terms of the deal.
Murray broke the 1,000-yard mark in 2015, rushing for 1,066 yards on 266 attempts for a 4.0 YPC average. Last year he ran 195 times for 788 yards (again, 4.0 YPC), and also had 33 receptions for 264 yards.
Bleacher Report though notes he did that behind one of the best offensive lines in football.
Here he is in the 2015-16 season.
Murray spoke with Vikings.com about signing in Minnesota.
“Obviously it being my first time [hitting free agency] I didn’t really know what to expect,” he said. “But I’m just glad I get the chance to play the game again with a great team with great history here in Minnesota.”
Murray also mentioned he grew up watching Randy Moss and Cris Carter.
The Vikings’ running backs
So where does this leave the Vikings’ backfield, which finished dead last in the NFL last year in yards per game?
On the roster now they’ve got Murray, Jerick McKinnon, and Bishop Sankey. Matt Asiata is a free agent.
Adrian Peterson? He’s still a free agent. And all the big NFL reporters are indicating the Murray signing means he’s done in Minnesota.
With Latavius Murray signing in Minnesota, Adrian Peterson officially will be moving on from Vikings.
And now, Oakland has a RB opening….
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2017
While you were sleeping… #Vikings signed former #Raiders RB Latavius Murray. This signals Adrian Peterson likely playing for someone else
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2017
Yahoo’s Charles Robinson is saying Peteron’s Vikings run is “all but over.”
Robinson also says the Raiders could be an AP destination, as they now have a RB hole after losing Murray. And Green Bay could also look at the soon-to-be-32-year-old back.
Inquisitr notes the Lions, Seahawks and Patriots have also been mentioned as possible landing spots.
