The New England Patriots have agreed to sign Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL media.
The Patriots ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing offense this past season, with Ezekiel Elliott representing their leading rusher at 642 yards.
Clearly, New England needs some help in its backfield, and while Gibson is hopefully not the primary answer for the club, he should at least provide some assistance.
Gibson is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he rushed for 265 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He showed more utility as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 48 passes for 389 yards and a couple of scores.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Memphis, was selected by the Commanders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He played in 14 games during his rookie campaign, registering 795 yards and 11 touchdowns while logging a robust 4.7 yards per attempt. He added 36 catches for 247 yards.
The following season, Gibson racked up 1,037 yards and seven scores as a rusher, although he posted a pedestrian 4.1 yards per tote. He also totaled 42 grabs for 294 yards as a receiver.
Then, in 2022, Gibson’s numbers on the ground declined rather significantly, as he finished with 546 yards and three touchdowns while tallying a meager 3.7 yards per carry. But, he remained productive as a pass-catcher, hauling in 46 receptions for 353 yards while reaching the end zone twice.
Antonio Gibson’s versatility could pay dividends for a Pats offense that is in desperate need of some weapons. Still, the Patriots have a long way to go.
Luckily for New England, it has a ton of cap space at its disposal.
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