The New Orleans Saints signed veteran running back Cam Akers on Monday, which could mean that former third-round pick Kendre Miller is available on the trade market. Selected out of TCU, Miller entered the league with hopes of eventually becoming the heir to Alvin Kamara, but has not played up to that potential. Appearing in just 14 games while making two starts, the running back has recorded just 304 yards and two touchdowns on 80 attempts during his two years in the league.
Cam Akers never quite recaptured the glory of his pre-Achilles form, but the veteran can be an adequate backup in the right offense. Miller, meanwhile, has yet to prove he can be effective and stay on the field. Neither of these players will challenge Kamara for the RB1 job, but if Akers wins the backup position, don’t be surprised if the Saints trade Kendre Miller for whatever they can get. While he hasn’t played up to his draft capital, the following three teams could send a late-round pick for his services.
Saints Could Trade Kendre Miller After Cam Akers Signing
Possible Fits
Kansas City Chiefs
After battling injuries for most of the 2024 season, former seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco is back and ready to lead this backfield. While a healthy version of Pacheco can be an adequate starter, he’s nothing special, and the rest of the depth chart is rather uninspiring. Kareem Hunt is well past his prime, and free agent signee Elijah Mitchell hasn’t done much since his impressive rookie season. A Kendre Miller trade shouldn’t cost anything more than a late-round pick swap, and the TCU product could provide some much-needed competition at the position.
Chicago Bears
Somehow, D’Andre Swift survived free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft to enter the minicamp as the Chicago Bears starting running back. However, we know head coach Ben Johnson is looking for other options. After narrowly missing on drafting Ashton Jeanty in the first round and TreVeyon Henderson in the second, Johnson could settle for a Kendre Miller trade as his lone way to upgrade the backfield. The Bears new head coach believes in the power of the run game, and he has the offensive pieces to turn this team around overnight.
Buffalo Bills
As of this posting, the James Cook holdout looks like it could get ugly. After leading the league with 16 touchdowns last year, the former second-round pick is skipping practices while seeking some long-term financial security. If this carries into the regular season, Buffalo will rely on the untested Ray Davis to lead the backfield. This is less than ideal, and a Kendre Miller trade could solidify the backfield while Buffalo sorts things out with their homegrown talent.
Main Photo: Matthew Hinton – Imagn Images
