The Oakland Raiders offense was one of the best in football in 2016 as quarterback Derek Carr developed into an MVP candidate, throwing to Pro Bowl caliber targets like Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.
Oakland also had a very underrated run game, as Latavius Murray led a three-headed monster at running back along with rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.
Murray was the team’s first string back coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2015, and he was relied on heavy in the second half of the season, especially after Carr went down with an injury.
But the 27-year-old was set to hit free agency this offseason, and with both Washington and Richard looking like they may be capable of being starting running backs in this league, the Raiders were said to be unlikely to re-sign Murray given the type of contract he would demand.
Well that became a reality Wednesday night, as the Minnesota Vikings announced that they have inked a contract with Murray, via the Vikings official Twitter account:
We have signed RB Latavius Murray (@LataviusM).
📰: https://t.co/MJlzFJ4oNK pic.twitter.com/EjrfcNdmB3
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 16, 2017
The details of the contract are currently unknown, but it will likely be for multiple years and a hefty amount of money as the Vikings averaged the fewest yards per game in 2016 at 75.3.
Murray was a sixth round pick of the Raiders in 2013, and in three seasons with the teams he rushed for 2,278 yards and 20 touchdowns to go along with 639 receiving yards.
2015 was his best all around season as he played in all 16 games, carrying the ball 266 times for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns. In 2016 he played in 14 games, starting 12 of them, and rushed for 788 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns.
With the Vikings no longer looking for a running back, Adrian Peterson’s time in Minnesota has likely come to an end, and the Raiders could be a destination for the former 2,000-yard back. Earlier this offseason the Raiders were considered a strong candidate to land the free agent.
