New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller is practicing again, but the team could trade him before they let him back on the field. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, New Orleans believed that Miller had the potential to be the eventual heir to Alvin Kamara. Unfortunately, the running back has not justified that faith, as Miller spent a sizable portion of the past two seasons battling injury. The TCU product appeared in just eight games as a rookie, recording 156 yards and one touchdown on 41 carries (3.8 yards per attempt).
Miller entered camp hoping to earn the primary backup job, but injuries struck again. The running back spent most of the offseason battling injury, and head coach Dennis Allen didn’t shy away from voicing his frustration with Miller’s health. After a short stint on the injured reserve, Allen still won’t commit to playing a now-healthy Miller despite injuries throughout the running back depth chart. At this point, it might be better to rip off the band-aid and trade Kendre Miller to a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or Los Angeles Chargers.
Dennis Allen on Kendre Miller playing: “We’ll see what happens.”
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) October 11, 2024
Dennis Allen Won’t Commit to A Kendre Miller Return – Trade Could Be Coming
Kareem Hunt has turned the clock back to 2017 while filling in for an injured Isiah Pacheco. The 29-year-old running back is playing like a man possessed, recording 171 yards and one touchdown on 41 targets while adding another three receptions for 31 yards in his two games with the team. Two games aren’t much of a sample, so this could be a fluke, but Hunt proved he’s still an adequate starter who can hold down the fort if Pacheco doesn’t return this year. However, even with Hunt’s strong play, Kansas City could use more depth. The physical nature of the position means injuries are common, and the Chiefs should consider a Kendre Miller trade to add security to the position.
Undrafted free agent Carson Steele played well in the preseason, but those results have not translated to meaningful game action. Through five games, the running back has averaged just 3.5 yards per carry while posting a 51.0 PFF grade, the 61st-best mark out of 62 eligible players. It’s too early to completely give up on the UCLA product, but it wouldn’t hurt to add some competition. Kendre Miller was a much better prospect, and it probably wouldn’t take more than a late-round pick swap for the Chiefs to trade for him.
Harbaugh’s Rushing Attack
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh loves running the football, but the former college football national champion doesn’t have the talent to implement his vision. Former Raven J.K. Dobbins cooled off after a hot start, while Gus Edwards is battling an injury and didn’t look too good even when healthy. This team is still a work in progress, but Harbaugh could buy low and trade for Kendre Miller as a potential fix to the backfield.
At 2-2, the Los Angeles Chargers don’t have much chance of catching the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West race. However, they’re still in the Wild Card picture, and their odds of reaching the postseason should improve with Justin Herbert healthy. Kendre Miller won’t singlehandedly fix this offense, but a trade could bolster the depth for a team that, in a perfect world, would run the football at one of the highest rates in the league.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
