Former Pro Bowler and Carolina Panthers running back, Miles Sanders may land with NFC contender Dallas Cowboys in a trade this offseason. The Cowboys are adding new blood to their running back group but they may look to trade for a “big dog” to take over as starter. There have been assumptions that Ezekiel Elliott’s return means he’s the starter for the upcoming 2024 campaign. However, Sanders is entering year two with the Panthers after having a season last year, one to forget after his stint with the Eagles.
The good news for Carolina is that they were able to draft Jonathon Brooks this year, which the Cowboys were initially planning on drafting. This leads to speculation that Dallas could make a trade offer for the veteran to add more experience to their running back corps. It seems like the Panthers are going young in their offense to develop under second-year quarterback, Bryce Young. It’s probably why it makes sense that the Panthers could trade Sanders in the first place so it gives room for homegrown talent.
Sanders already lost his starting role to Chuba Hubbard, and Brooks’s drafting is just steps away from a trade. Many talking heads know the type of player Sanders was when he was with the Eagles playing under franchise quarterback, Jalen Hurts. The former 2019 second-round pick by the Eagles played out his rookie contract, finishing strong in 2022 with 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, frustration leads to Sander’s release due to having to share many carries with Hurts.
A slow start for the Penn State product led to his injury last season in week five. This means Hubbard stepped into the role and brought a spark to the run game. All signs point to Sanders leaving Carolina soon.
Former Pro Bowler Miles Sanders May Land With NFC Contender Dallas Cowboys in Trade
How He Would Fit With the Offense
The former Pro Bowler still has three years left on his deal so Carolina could keep around for roster depth. However, if Brooks comes back from the ACL injury he suffered in college, they may want to avoid discontent in the locker. Sanders isn’t looking to be a second-stringer in the league already with frustrations in his last stint with the Eagles. The Panthers would get $4.2 million in cap relief if they trade him after the post-June 1 designation cut.
This means Carolina could try to get something in return for Sanders before drama happens. The duo of Hubbard and Brooks looks promising if they can be healthy and productive for the Carolina offense. They probably could want a running back in return to complement and develop with the new potential Carolina running back duo. Perhaps, they could look into trading for Deuce Vaughn while the Panthers ship off Sanders to team with Elliott.
The Cowboys should still be searching for help at the position after not drafting a running back in this year’s draft. They have Elliott but he’s more of a role player rather than a top star like he was in his prime. Here are other team trade fits for Sanders.
Team Trade Fits for Sanders
The Kansas City Chiefs need a solid backup but starter Isiah Pacheco is showing promise that he’s going to be around for a long time. This means Clyde Edwards-Helaire isn’t going to stick around much longer with the team. Sanders could provide some help for the depth and his abilities under a proven quarterback like Patrick Mahomes could improve his production. The Chargers are another team that makes sense since Jim Harbaugh is all about running the ball.
However, the addition of J.K. Dobbins doesn’t look promising following his ACL injury last season. Usually, no player is ever the same after a gruesome injury like that. Gus Edwards is an excellent starter but third-stringer, Isaiah Spiller still has to prove he can play. The final team that makes sense is teaming with Derrick Henry in Baltimore.
Henry has faced a track record of injuries in his career which could indicate he isn’t lasting past his two-year deal with the Ravens.
