After falling down the depth chart, running back Khalil Herbert is reportedly looking for a trade. A sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Virginia Tech product started his career on a strong note. Overcoming his unremarkable draft capital, Herbert finished his rookie season with 433 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 103 carries. He built on this success, recording 731 and 611 rushing yards in 2022 and 2023 under new head coach Matt Eberflus.
Unfortunately, the running back could not carry this success into the final year of his rookie contract. Buried behind free agent signee D’Andre Swift and former fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson, Herbert has appeared in just six games while recording eight carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. It’s clear that Khalil Herbert is not in Chicago’s long-term plans and the organization recently gave the running back permission to seek a trade. While he won’t fetch a large return, teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs could take a shot on the veteran.
3 Teams Could Land Khalil Herbert After Trade Request
The Dallas Cowboys are easily the most likely trade destination for Khalil Herbert. At 3-4, the team must do something to salvage their season and earn a spot in the playoffs. With second-overall pick Jayden Daniels playing like a star and the Philadelphia Eagles as dominant as ever, Dallas doesn’t stand a realistic shot of winning the NFC East. However, they could still earn a Wild Card spot, but that won’t happen without adding some outside talent. Head coach Mike McCarthy will not be back if the team can’t play football deep into January, so don’t be surprised if the one-time Super Bowl champion makes a move to try and save his job.
Owner Jerry Jones made it clear that he can’t afford a big-money transaction after extending quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. However, he recently said he thought the Cowboys would be better than this, so he knows more talent is required for a shot at the Super Bowl. Khalil Herbert might not be a superstar, but the trade candidate would be the best running back in Dallas. Rico Dowdle is nothing more than a career journeyman, while former first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott is well past his prime. Seeing as he won’t cost more than a late-round pick, the Cowboys might as well see if Herbert can infuse this backfield with some much-needed juice.
Other Fits
The New Orleans Saints signed Alvin Kamara to a two-year extension, ensuring he will be the face of the backfield for the foreseeable future. Khalil Herbert won’t steal the job from Kamara, but this team could use a better backup. Head coach Dennis Allen refuses to sell and believes he can make the playoffs with a healthy version of the current roster. General manager Mickey Loomis seems to agree, as he recently said he won’t entertain low-value trade offers. Adding Herbert to the mix should ease the burden on Kamara, as Jamaal Williams continues to disappoint and 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller can’t get in Allen’s good graces.
With Isiah Pacheco sidelined, the Kansas City Chiefs had no choice but to entrust old friend Kareem Hunt. While the longtime Cleveland Brown got off to a great start, his play has worsened weekly. The running back can’t handle a large workload anymore, and the offense should benefit from a Khalil Herbert trade. While Pacheco should return to the field, Kansas City still needs a better backup than the aging Hunt, the one-dimension Samaje Perine, and undrafted free agent Carson Steele.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina – USA Today Sports
