kendre miller
kendre miller
Kendre Miller may have played his last snap with the New Orleans Saints as the team tries to navigate their crowded backfield. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the TCU product was supposed to be the heir to Alvin Kamara. However, his inability to stay on the field and unremarkable production could prevent him from finishing his rookie contract with the team. He played in just eight games as a rookie, recording 156 yards and one touchdown on 41 attempts. He wasn’t any better in 2024, finishing the season with just 148 rushing yards and one touchdown on 39 attempts in six games. He also fell into former head coach Dennis Allen’s doghouse, as Allen clearly thought he should be playing through some of these bruises.
The running back had a chance to prove himself under Kellen Moore in 2025, but he failed to meet the challenge. Even though Kamara clearly lost a step as the season progressed, Kendre Miller still ended the season with an unremarkable 193 yards and one touchdown in seven games (no starts). The Saints spent big on free agent Travis Etienne in the offseason and still have Kamara on the roster. With no clear path to the field and three years of underwhelming production on his resume, fans and analysts alike believed this was the end of the road for Miller.
However, Alvin Kamara suffered a knee injury during a practice, which seemingly opened the door for Kendre Miller to earn a spot on the team. However, the Saints traded for veteran Zamir White, which is a pretty clear sign the team does not believe in Miller or former sixth-round pick Devin Neal. Because of this, it’s safe to assume the Saints plan on releasing Miller before the start of the upcoming season, but he could continue his career with a new organization.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Saints Likely to Cut Kendre Miller After Zamir White Trade
Now entering the final year of his rookie season, it’s highly unlikely Kendre Miller ever plays up to his potential with the New Orleans Saints. Rather than keep him on the bench for a season before letting him leave in free agency, the Saints could easily move on and see if Devin Neal, a cheaper player with more team control, can develop as the RB3 while Kamara works his way back to health.
Kendre Miller had a solid collegiate career, which is why he was a third-round pick in the first place. However, at some point in time, you need to prove that you can play in the NFL, and Miller hasn’t done that. Based on all evidence to date, his body can’t handle NFL hits, and he lacks the physical gifts to be anything more than a replacement-level player when on the field. He doesn’t do much as a receiver, and he’s unremarkable as a runner.
Perhaps some team would surrender a conditional seventh-round pick for his services, but even that feels like a stretch. Chances are, the Saints will have to bite the bullet and release Kendre Miller, especially since Alvin Kamara is guaranteed to return for another season.
No Goodbye to A Franchise Icon
Travis Etienne’s massive contract makes him the unquestioned RB1 in the New Orleans Saints backfield. At the time, this signing made Alvin Kamara’s the NFL’s most expensive backup running back, and there was a real chance New Orleans would have to release the franchise icon if the two sides couldn’t agree to a restructured deal. However, the player and team eventually agreed to a new deal that ensured he’ll make the 2026 roster.
Alvin Kamara is better than Kendre Miller, but is keeping him worth an extra $3.3 million and a late-round draft pick? It was a fair question to ask at the time, but now that money’s not a factor, it’s hard to envision a world where Kendre Miller is a Saints by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – Imagn Images