After a successful workout with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, RB Abram Smith officially signed an NFL contract with Minnesota, per Mike Mitchell.
Abram Smith of the @XFLDefenders signs NFL contract with the @Vikings.#XFLtoNFL | #XFL pic.twitter.com/eDW7IEk9mC
— XFL (@XFL2023) August 3, 2023
Smith led the XFL in rushing this past season with 791 yards, clearing the second place rusher (Jacques Patrick) by a staggering 348 yards. He also led all qualifying RB’s in YPC with 5.0 yards.
Abram Smith entered the 2023 XFL season with higher expectations than most. Smith was selected by the DC Defenders with the first overall pick in the 2023 XFL Draft last November.
Prior to the XFL, Smith played collegiately at Baylor where he spent four seasons with the Bears. After a breakout senior season where he ran for over 1,500 yards, Smith declared for the NFL Draft, where he went undrafted and was later picked up by New Orleans. Smith was later released by the Saints prior to the season, which began his XFL journey.
Smith’s true success began in Week 5 against the St. Louis Battlehawks, when he rushed for 218 yards on 23 carries, with 3 touchdowns. In the week’s following, Smith continued his tear on the league, rushing for 95 against Houston and 127 against Orlando.
Abram Smith is a cheat code #DefendDC | @abramsmith_28 pic.twitter.com/6iK1NkdM6O
— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) July 19, 2023
Abram Smith is the seventh DC Defenders player to sign an NFL contract this offseason. He joins a list that currently includes Chris Blair (ATL), Ferrod Gardner (WSH), Lucky Jackson (MIN), Liam Ryan (SEA), Brandon Smith (DEN), and Daniel Whelan (GB). Though Blair was recently cut by Atlanta.
What are your thoughts on Abram Smith signing with the Minnesota Vikings? Which XFL player is next? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
