Vikings' Latavius Murray: Not locked in as three-down back

Head coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn't necessarily know if Murray (ankle) is a three-down back, Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Analysis:

Murray is a strong pass blocker with good size and solid hands, but he's never been particularly explosive or evasive and doesn't break nearly as many tackles as one would expect of a 225-pound running back. While capable of staying on the field in any situation, he's essentially a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. The Vikings would ideally want to pair their offseason addition with a more explosive runner -- perhaps even hoping Jerick McKinnon can be that complement. If not McKinnon, the team could address its backfield in a draft that's strong at the position, though the offensive line is a more pressing concern. Signed to a three-year deal in mid-March, the 27-year-old Murray is expected to miss Minnesota's offseason program after having surgery last week to remove bone spurs. He should be back to full strength for the start of training camp, and he's a clear favorite to take the team's first snap of the season.