Kendre Miller NFL Draft Profile
Position: Running Back
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 215 pounds
School: TCU
2023 NFL Draft: Kendre Miller Draft Profile
Fresh off of a historic season for the TCU Horned Frogs, Kendre Miller has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Miller, a Texas native, committed to TCU in 2020 and has been productive for them his entire career. As a true freshman, Miller rushed for almost 400 yards despite splitting time with the number two running back recruit Zach Evans. 2021 was more of the same, splitting time with Evans but still putting together over 700 yards from scrimmage.
This past season was a breakout not just for Kendre Miller, but for the entire TCU program. As the team enjoyed success, Miller enjoyed individual success. His 1500 yards from scrimmage led the team, and was good enough for top ten in the NCAA among running backs. Miller elected to forego his senior season to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Strengths
- Impressive contact balance;
- Knack for ripping off chunk plays;
- Prototypical size for the position;
- Arm tackles don’t slow him down, let alone tackle him;
- Patient following blockers, let’s play develop;
- Still only 20 years old.
Weaknesses
- Lacks top end speed;
- Medium at best pass catcher;
- No short area quickness;
- Big and strong, but doesn’t always push piles forward;
- Also medium at best pass protector;
- Accelerates like a garbage truck.
NFL Comparison: Jay Ajayi
Team Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans
Projection: Rounds 3-4
Bottom Line on Kendre Miller
In any other draft class, Miller could be a top-three running back. He has the size and production to be a Day 2 pick. Unfortunately for Miller, this class is loaded with talent and the NFL can afford to wait on running backs. His skill set will be especially useful on early downs, and Miller could be an early down asset for most NFL teams. He lacks some of the top-end athleticism to be a home run threat, but continually broke off chunk plays in college with his vision and tackle-breaking ability.
Kendre Miller: third round in the NFL Draft or is he going somewhere else? pic.twitter.com/3oCImvZxCZ
— FF Mike Kash (@FFMikeKash) April 9, 2023
Miller is able to make defenders miss with an almost slippery play style despite his larger size. He has been producing at the college level for years, and in the Kendre Miller Draft Profile, it has to be noted that he produced even behind less talented TCU offensive lines. He succeeded from the time he was a freshman, and is one of the youngest prospects in this draft class.
If the team already has a passing-down specialist or is looking to add a big body to their room, Miller could go early. Conversely, multiple teams could look at his weaknesses on passing downs and look for someone that has more of a three-down skill set. Miller could find himself in a situation where he is one of the best backups in the league, who fills in admirably when a higher profile running back is injured. His frame is durable enough to sustain the beating running backs take in the NFL, and he is still young enough to learn the intricacies of passing downs.
Kendre Miller Dynasty Outlook
The running back position is getting harder and harder to forecast draft capital, and for a prospect like Miller it will matter immensely. His rushing profile projects him to be extremely useful in fantasy at the next level. His ceiling could be that of a Nick Chubb, albeit at a lower level. With a subpar receiving profile, Miller will need to find an ideal situation where they view him as the early down and goal line back in order to crack the top 12 in fantasy.