Vikings plan to sign RB Myles Gaskin

The Vikings are expected to sign the veteran running back to their 53-man roster, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. This will reunite Gaskin with ex-Dolphins HC Brian Flores, who became the Vikes’ defensive coordinator this offseason.

Minnesota completed a drawn-out separation with Dalvin Cook, and while the Dolphins initially loomed as the most likely suitor, they stood down. Miami still kept other backs (Wilson, Mostert, Salvon Ahmed, third-rounder Devon Achane, UDFA Chris Brooks) over Gaskin, who played with the team for four seasons. Cook’s Minnesota exit leaves Alexander Mattison atop the NFC North club’s RB depth chart. Gaskin will make his case to be a contributor on a second NFL team.

Rather than create a roster spot with a post-cutdown-day IR move, which will be a common transaction today, the Vikings are waiving Jalen Reagor. The former first-round pick will be off Minnesota’s roster Wednesday, Schefter adds. The Vikings acquired Reagor via trade last year, picking him up from the Eagles on the day after setting their initial 2022 53-man roster. But the player Philly chose ahead of Justin Jefferson will not play a second season in Minnesota’s Jefferson-fronted receiving corps.

Reagor trade rumors re-emerged Tuesday, but no deal transpired. Rather than the Vikings convincing a team to take on Reagor’s $2.42M fully guaranteed salary, the team will be hit with that dead-money total. After washing out with the Eagles, Reagor did not make a notable impact with the Vikings. The TCU alum caught eight passes for 104 yards while serving as a regular punt returner with his second NFL team. Claiming Reagor would mean another club would be responsible for that $2.42M; a free agency stay seems likelier to take place for the 2020 No. 21 overall pick.

The Vikings kept six wideouts Tuesday, with 2022 sixth-rounder Jalen Nailor and return man Brandon Powell joining starters Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Jordan Addison. Powell returned both punts and kicks for the Rams last season and will be the logical Reagor replacement as the Vikes’ punt returner.

Gaskin joins Ty Chandler and kick returner Kene Nwangwu behind Mattison on Minnesota’s running back depth chart. Mattison’s two incumbent backups have not gained much experience on offense, with the Cook-Mattison hierarchy in place from 2019-22. Minnesota is believed to view Mattison as a capable three-down back, but with the recently re-signed backup not having performed in this role before, RB depth behind him is a bit more important for the team compared to previous years.

The Dolphins used Gaskin as a backfield regular in 2020 and ’21. Under Flores, the former seventh-round pick 1,196 rushing yards in those seasons; he topped out at 4.1 yards per carry (in 2021) during that span. Under Mike McDaniel last season, Gaskin played in only four games and worked as a seldom-used backup. The Dolphins placed Gaskin on IR in December, after they had acquired Wilson via trade.