The Saints 2-0 start to the season seems like a lifetime ago, as their five-game losing streak could be enough to signal a Kendre Miller trade. After looking like one of the best teams in the league, New Orleans weathered an absurd amount of injuries over the past month, losing quarterback Derek Carr, wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave, do-everything weapon Taysom Hill, effectively the entire offensive line, and star cornerback Paulson Adebo, just to name a few. Nobody could overcome this rash of missed players, so don’t be surprised if the Saints start selling their few healthy players to contenders across the league.
One of the most popular trade candidates out there is 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller. Selected to possibly be the heir to Alvin Kamara, the TCU product battled injuries throughout his first two years in the league. Head coach Dennis Allen went out of his way to berate Miller for missing time, and it’s clear there’s no love lost between these two. Kendre Miller made his 2024 debut on Thursday Night Football, and his performance could be enough to signal a trade. As perhaps the only bright spot on the offense, the running back recorded 36 yards on just six carries and could land with the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens.
Saints Could Trade Kendre Miller to Chiefs, Ravens As Season Unravels
Nobody will trade for Kendre Miller and hand him a starting job, but he could be a valuable backup for the Kansas City Chiefs. With Isiah Pacheco sidelined for the immediate future, the Chiefs had to turn to old friend Kareem Hunt. Signed off the streets early in the season, the former rushing leader looked like a new man in Kansas City, recording 171 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries through two games. Perhaps he slows down with increased usage, but even if he keeps this up, Kansas City could still use more reinforcements in their backfield.
Undrafted free agent Carson Steele had a strong preseason, but he hasn’t carried that success over to the regular season. Samaje Perine is just a receiving back at this stage of his career, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is anything but a roster lock. Seeing as he probably won’t cost more than a late-round pick, the Saints should trade for Kendre Miller and see if he can beat out the former first-round pick. With two more years on his rookie contract, the Chiefs could land a cost-controlled backup for effectively nothing.
Someone Behind Derrick Henry
The Baltimore Ravens signed Derrick Henry as the thunder to Lamar Jackson’s lightning, and that plan is working perfectly through six games. At 4-2, Jackson is playing like an MVP while Henry refuses to give into age, leading the league in rushing yards (704), carries (119), and touchdowns (eight). Kendre Miller won’t steal Henry’s job, but a trade could give this team a much-needed emergency plan in case injury strikes.
If something happens to Henry, the Ravens would have to turn to Justice Hill and potentially 2023 undrafted free agent Keaton Mitchell. While Hill earned an extension, he’s not the type of player who can handle a massive workload. Mitchell, meanwhile, looked good in a small sample last year but is still working his way back from a season-ending injury. Baltimore could use more stability in their backfield, and a Kendre Miller trade might be the most cost-effective way to land an adequate backup.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
