The New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2024 season with notably different expectations, and these two outlooks could lead to a Kendre Miller trade. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the TCU product entered the league with a chance to establish himself as the eventual heir to Alvin Kamara. That didn’t go as planned, as injuries limited him to just 41 rushing attempts for 156 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and one touchdown. The running back continued to battle injury throughout training camp, leading a visibly frustrated Dennis Allen to question his ability to make the team.
While Kendre Miller technically made the 53-man roster, nobody should be surprised if the Saints trade him. Miller is currently on the short-term injured reserve, but a change of scenery could be good for both sides. According to Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, the Saints could trade the former third-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Bleacher Report: Saints, Chiefs Could Agree to Kendre Miller Trade
Kay’s argument for a Kendre Miller trade rests around Kansas City’s need to “field a more complete offense” as the Chiefs try to become the first team to win three Super Bowls in as many seasons. Isiah Pacheco is a ferocious early-down runner and Samaje Perine offers some upside as a pass-catching threat, but that’s it for proven commodities in this backfield. Undrafted free agent Carson Steele played well in the preseason, but that doesn’t always translate to regular season success, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire shouldn’t be anything more than a worst-case scenario.
Kendre Miller is far from a proven commodity, but the trade candidate could add much-needed competition to this backfield. Perine was a decent change of pace back in his day, but the fact he wasn’t good enough to make the Denver Broncos should be a major red flag. Miller projects more as an early-down runner, so perhaps the Chiefs could acquire him as insurance if Steele isn’t ready for regular season action. Pacheco is the unquestioned starter, but Kansas City should do something about their questionable depth before it becomes a pressing issue.
Will the Saints Give Up?
We know that Dennis Allen isn’t the biggest fan of Kendre Miller, but would New Orleans agree to trade the third-round pick for such a minimal return? As of this posting, the Saints have Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, and 2023 undrafted free agent Jordan Mims on the active roster. They tried to add running back/return specialist Kene Nwangwu into the mix, but the former Viking couldn’t pass his physical.
Kamara might not be the player he once was, but he’s still an above average starter. While there are some signs that the team could trade him, we’ll assume he sticks around for the time being. Jamaal Williams had a disastrous first season in New Orleans, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry with one touchdown. However, the team wouldn’t save any money with a cut, so they might as well hold on to him. Jordan Mims is the wild card here. If he can play well with Kendre Miller on the injured reserve, then the Saints could probably justify a trade. If, however, he can’t handle the RB3 role, then Miller will probably stay around for another season.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
