New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller is set to return to practice, but his current team could trade him before he returns to the field. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Saints selected the TCU product hoping he could develop into the heir to Alvin Kamara. That didn’t happen in his rookie season, as he recorded just 156 yards and one touchdown on 41 carries (3.8 yards per carry) while dealing with a series of injuries. These injuries followed him into 2023, as the running back missed most of the offseason work before landing on the injured reserve ahead of Week 1.
Most of the time, teams would anxiously await the return of a former third-round pick. However, this isn’t your typical situation. Head coach Dennis Allen has not been shy about pointing out his frustration with Miller’s inability to stay on the field, and it’s clear these two aren’t sending each other Christmas cards. With Kamara still playing at a high level, Allen could easily trade Kendre Miller to a team like the Los Angeles Chargers or Baltimore Ravens in exchange for whatever he can get.
Other players set to return to practice this week: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Odell Beckham Jr, Kendrick Bourne, Kendre Miller, D.J. Chark.
Several others on the PUP list or IR will return to practice in the weeks following this one. https://t.co/3cxFtKZWRV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 29, 2024
Saints Could Trade Kendre Miller to Chargers, Ravens
Jim Harbaugh believes in the power of running the football, but his team hasn’t done that too well in recent weeks. After taking the world by storm early in the season, former Raven J.K. Dobbins has slowed down considerably over the past two weeks, recording just 76 yards on 29 carries (2.6 yards per attempt). Meanwhile, big-money free agent signee Gus Edwards has been even worse, recording 113 yards without a touchdown on 38 attempts. Put simply, this isn’t good enough to support an offense with an injured quarterback and no proven threats at the receiver position. If they want to win games on the ground, they could roll the dice and trade for Kendre Miller.
Kendre Miller is anything but a proven commodity, but the trade candidate could compete for touches in this offense. Now sitting two games behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West race, Los Angeles must do something to close that gap. While wide receiver is a bigger need, Harbaugh’s desire to win with the run game will probably outweigh his desire for a veteran set of hands.
Backup For Derrick Henry
Father Time is undefeated, but Derrick Henry is giving him one hell of a fight. The 30-year-old running back is playing like a man possessed, averaging six yards per carry through the first four games of the season. Kendre Miller will not usurp Henry on the depth chart, but the Ravens could still be interested in a trade. Even though his career numbers suggest otherwise, Derrick Henry is a human being and can’t possibly keep this up indefinitely. The Ravens must find an adequate backup, and Miller could be an ideal fit for the role.
Longtime backup Justice Hill is a fine Plan B, but we know he’s nothing special. Kendre Miller hasn’t proven he can play at the NFL level, but his collegiate tape suggests the trade target has some untapped potential. Seeing as he likely wouldn’t cost more than a sixth- or seventh-round pick, Baltimore might as well bring him in and see if he can thrive behind a better offensive line with an elite dual-threat quarterback.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
