Jacksonville Jaguars meeting with Latavius Murray could shake up running backs
By Luke Sims
Latavius Murray is set to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars, marking a step forward at running back for the team.
Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon were a major letdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the team desperately needs to create a strong ground game to complement Blake Bortles and the aerial attack. Enter Latavius Murray, free agent running back from the Oakland Raiders.
Over the last three seasons, Murray has been one of the more intriguing running backs in the NFL. His 1066-yard 2015 season helped prove he was legit and he followed that up with 788 yards in 14 games in 2016. His 4.2 yards per attempt over his career speaks to his ability to put up impressive yardage totals if given the opportunities to carry the rock.
Adam Schefter reported that Murray will visit the Jaguars on Monday (and the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday), instantly creating more intrigue in the Jags’ offseason plans at the position. With many already eyeing the 2017 NFL Draft and its impressive backs like Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook (not to mention the likely non-first-rounders), free agency may seem like an odd time to improve the running back stable.
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But it shouldn’t be. A player like Murray has proven his worth and should always be considered as a high-upside addition. Unlike the aged Ivory from 2016, Murray is just 27 and should have his prime running years in front of him after just 543 rushes over three seasons. There’s plenty of tread left on his tires.
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While this is only a visit and there’s no guarantee the Jaguars sign Murray, it is an intriguing option to consider. With the lack of production on the ground over the last four seasons (22nd, 27th, 21st, 31st in total yards, 29th, 29th, 24th, and 28th in touchdowns) anything and everything should be considered. Murray is easily one of the more intriguing options at the position left in free agency.