Who will the Vikings choose to replace Latavius Murray in 2019?
By Adam Patrick
Free Agent Options
LeGarrette Blount
After being a part of a Super Bowl winning team in both 2016 and 2017, Blount spent last season as a member of the Detroit Lions. It was a much different outcome than what the running back had been used to recently since the Lions only ended up winning six games in 2018.
Blount had one of the least productive seasons of his NFL career while wearing a Detroit uniform last year. He finished with just 418 rushing yards (2.7 per carry) and five touchdowns in 16 games last season.
Despite his struggles in 2018, if the Vikings are looking for a No. 2 back that would be an excellent option around the goal line, Blount would be a good choice.
Isaiah Crowell
Stuck on crummy teams for the majority of his career, Crowell has still found a way to be productive. With the New York Jets last season, he ran for 685 yards (4.8 per carry) and six touchdowns.
He’s still only 26-years-old, but he has enough NFL experience (five seasons) that could be helpful the progression of a young running back like Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook.
C.J. Anderson
After getting cut by the Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders last year, Anderson was able to land on his feet with the Los Angeles Rams. The running back’s performance during the end of the regular season and in the playoffs was a key factor in the Rams making it all the way to the Super Bowl.
The Vikings may be intrigued by a guy like Anderson because of his past with new Minnesota offensive advisor Gary Kubiak. When Kubiak was the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2015 and 2016, the veteran running back was an integral part of the team’s offense.
Perhaps Anderson would be interested in joining the Vikings to reunite with his old head coach this year.
Alfred Morris
Despite beginning his NFL career with three-straight seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards as a member of the Washington Redskins, Morris has never been able to produce at a similar level since.
He spent 2018 with the San Francisco 49ers and his numbers weren’t anything to rave about. In 12 games last season, Morris rushed for 428 yards (3.9 per carry) and two touchdowns.
Minnesota may be interested in his services for 2019 given his experience in the offensive scheme that the team is currently installing and the fact that he is a former teammate of current Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.