Less than two years after selecting him to be the heir apparent to Alvin Kamara, the New Orleans Saints could cut running back Kendre Miller. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the TCU product was supposed to spend his rookie season backing up the five-time Pro Bowler while competing with free agent signee Jamaal Williams for snaps. This didn’t go according to plan, as Miller recorded just 41 carries for 156 yards and one touchdown while appearing in just eight games. Despite Williams finishing as one of the least efficient backs in football, Miller still couldn’t earn touches.
Training camp is underway, and early reports indicate that the second-year running back is off to a poor start. Miller suffered an injury early and was unable to finish the practice session. When asked about Kendre Miller, head coach Dennis Allen said he could cut the running back if he can’t get back on the field.
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— Brandon Thomas (@brandont504) July 24, 2024
Cutting a third-round pick before his second season is rare, but it’s not unheard of. Allen is on the hot seat and he can’t afford to keep an inferior player on the roster just because of draft capital. The Saints could cut Kendre Miller if he doesn’t improve, but that probably won’t be the end of his career. While any team could take a risk on him, the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens make the most sense.
Chiefs, Ravens Could Target Kendre Miller If Saints Cut Him
The Kansas City Chiefs are going for their third Super Bowl in as many seasons and could use as many good players as possible to achieve that goal. While the roster is one of the best in the league, they could use some more depth at running back. Isiah Pacheco is a fine starter, but Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Keontay Ingram, and Deneric Prince are not starting-caliber backups and couldn’t handle the added responsibility if Pacheco goes down. Kansas City’s depth is so weak that the team is trying to convert Kadarius Toney into a running back.
Kendre Miller might not be a future Hall of Famer, but the cut candidate should be able to carve out a role on this offense. After all, he was a third-round pick for a reason, so perhaps he can find a home under arguably the best coaching staff in football. Andy Reid’s system is one of the best in the league for running back production, so he should be able to get the most out of the TCU product.
Ravens Find More Depth
After watching almost every running back suffer some injury over the past two seasons, Baltimore spent big on superstar Derrick Henry. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time rushing leader will receive the lion’s share of the touches as long as he’s healthy, but nobody can handle 100% of the workload. With 2023 breakout star Keaton Mitchell still recovering from his season-ending injury, the Ravens could take a flier on Kendre Miller if the Saints cut him.
Justin Hill is a fine backup, but he lacks any type of ceiling. Kendre Miller might not justify his third-round draft capital, but there is some untapped potential here. Playing alongside Lamar Jackson is every running back’s dream, as the reigning MVP’s elite athleticism prevents defenses from locking in on the running back. If the Saints cut Kendre Miller, he could easily save his career by playing second-fiddle to Derrick Henry.
