Freshly-Signed Vikings RB Was Worth the Wait
The Minnesota Vikings were finicky about their running back search during the last few weeks, and the approach paid off.
Following roster cuts on Tuesday, Vikings general manager added tailback Myles Gaskin on Wednesday, deepening an RB room that already includes Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu.
Freshly-Signed Vikings RB Was Worth the Wait
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “RB Myles Gaskin, released yesterday by the Dolphins, is signing today with the Vikings active roster, per source. Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha confirmed the deal with Minnesota, where Gaskin now will be reuniting with his former HC Brian Flores, the Vikings’ DC.”
Gaskin, 26, joins his second NFL team after spending four productive seasons in Miami, crossing over with Brian Flores’ tenure, as mentioned by Schefter.
Minnesota previously auditioned veterans Kareem Hunt and Mike Davis for the job while ultimately signing lesser-know runners Aaron Dykes and Abram Smith to the preseason roster. But Hunt and Davis never signed, and Dykes + Smith left the team on Tuesday amid roster cuts.
The former 7th-Round draft pick is a dual-threat RB, tabulating 101 receptions since 2019 for 701 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 361 rushing attempts for 1,355 yards and 7 scores. He was at the peak of his powers in 2020, tallying 972 yards from scrimmage in Flores’ second year as Miami’s skipper.
Gaskin should nestle into an RB role behind Mattison and Chandler, although it’s not inconceivable that he could climb to RB2 as the 2023 season progresses.
Here’s Gaskin’s Pro Football Focus resume to date:
2022: 66.5
2021: 64.8
2020: 74.5
2019: 57.4
The Dolphins kept several running backs on their 53-man roster, including Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, rookie De’Von Achane, and Salvon Ahmed, making Gaskin evidently expendable. He wasn’t destined to remain a free agent for too long, and Minnesota swooped early to acquire his services.
Minnesota ran the football the third least per playcalling percentage in Kevin O’Connell’s first year on the job, ranking 29th in rushing yards. The club has hinted all offseason its desire to run the football more in 2023, so onboarding depth players like Gaskin checks out.
Gaskin was teammates at the Univeristy of Washington with new Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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