Miami Dolphins: 4 late-round picks ready for immediate impact
By Scott Gorman
Round 7, Pick 244: Gerrid Doaks, RB, Cincinnati
The pick here at the running back position is probably the most obvious name on the list. While Doaks hasn’t received the fanfare of other RB’s in the 2021 NFL Draft, he lands in one of the better opportunities in the league. The incumbent Myles Gaskin surprised as the starter in 2020, as he proved extremely competent with 972 total yards and five scores for the season.
However, the Miami Dolphins could stand to upgrade the position eventually with a true game-changer at the RB position. Doaks may not be a three-down workhorse as an NFL hopeful, but he does provide an excellent power complement to Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. He will push free-agent addition Malcolm Brown for the short-yardage and goal-line role right away in 2021.
Doaks was an intriguing option in the seventh round as a player with decent upside at a low cost that could challenge for a starting job as early as the 2022 NFL season. Gaskin needs to prove he can overcome the nagging injuries that cost him time in 2021. If he does not, Doaks will see a more significant role than expected in Miami’s backfield next to Ahmed and Brown. And while I’ve recently linked other 2022 RB options to the Dolphins, Doaks could end up being the long-term solution at RB for Miami.