Bills ink vet Murray after passing on RBs in draft

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Bills added a veteran presence to the team’s running backs room, signing Latavius Murray to a one-year deal just two days after the 2023 NFL draft concluded.

The Bills did not address the position in the draft but did sign former Fresno State running back Jordan Mims to a deal as an undrafted free agent following the draft.

The 33-year-old Murray, a Syracuse native who also earned an MBA from Syracuse in 2020, becomes the second-oldest player on the Bills’ roster (behind Von Miller) and adds experience to a running backs room that is headlined by 2022 second-round pick James Cook.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Monday he reached an agreement to sign Murray during the final day of the draft on Saturday by informing the player that he’d stay away from selecting a running back with Buffalo’s final three selections.

“I just appreciated the communication. But even with that, I watched [the draft] close and was hoping, obviously, that it could work out in my favor,” said Murray, who was eager to play for a contender and paid the Bills a visit last month. “I’m not trying to just go anywhere. And I don’t need to play for more money.”

Murray’s style fits in as a bigger back — 6-foot-3, 230-pounds — for short-yardage situations. The Bills also signed Damien Harris this offseason and have Nyheim Hines coming back for his first full season with the team after being acquired before the trade deadline in 2022.

Murray finished last season with the Denver Broncos, who signed the running back off the New Orleans Saints‘ practice squad after Javonte Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. He proved to be a pleasant surprise for a sluggish offense that spent much of the 2022 season mired in injuries.

Murray finished the season as one of the Broncos’ most reliable performers on offense and a locker room leader. Thrust into the lead role, he had two 100-yard rushing games over the final five weeks, as he finished with 760 yards between the two teams — his best output since 2017.

His 130 yards rushing in the Broncos’ victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15 was the fourth-highest total in any game of his career.

Murray has 6,252 career rushing yards and 57 total touchdowns over nine NFL seasons with the Broncos, Saints, Ravens, Vikings and Raiders.

ESPN’s Jeff Legwold and The Associated Press contributed to this report.