Kendre Miller has the potential to be an impactful player in 2025 if he can stay healthy. If he does, he will be the X-Factor the Saints need.
Kendre Miller hasn’t lived up to the expectations of a third round pick since being drafted in 2023. He’s shown bright flashes while on the field, however, his inability to stay healthy has been a major cause for concern. The talent is there to create a two-headed monster with Alvin Kamara, but Miller's health is the running back room's X-Factor
Miller was drafted with pick No. 71 out of TCU. His draft stock soared in 2022 as he played a major role in TCU’s run to the national championship. He totaled 224 attempts for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns in his final season.
Miller’s frame paired with his elusiveness and top end speed made him an attractive prospect. The Saints took a swing on him and thus far hasn’t paid off. But, there’s still time for that to change.
Saints have yet to see a healthy Kendre Miller
Miller’s first injury in the NFL happened before the season started with a sprained knee in training camp. He made his first career appearance in week three against the Packers. He was able to stay relatively healthy for a few weeks before suffering an ankle injury that kept him out until the season finale. He finished the year with 156 rushing yards and 117 receiving yards in eight games played.
Miller’s final game against the Falcons gave fans hope going into 2024 (13 att, 74 yds, 1 td). However, the same pattern appeared when Miller dealt with a pair of hamstring injuries that kept him out of a majority of the season. Just when he returned healthy in week 17, he suffered a concussion which ended his season. This pattern has to end in 2025 if Miller wants to succeed in the NFL.
The Saints drafted Devin Neal, and there are high expectations around him. If Miller succumbs to injury for yet another season, he may not get another chance
Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller have dynamic duo potential
Kamara is 29 years old, so Miller taking some of the load off his legs is paramount for his health. This offense should excite fans if he can stay on the field. Kellen Moore has shown what he can do with a successful running game and Miller should be a big part of that.
A healthy Miller create a dynamic tandem of running backs with Alvin Kamara. The Saints have excelled with two-running back backfields throughout Kamara's career. In the short stints when Miller is on the field, he's shown the ability to operate in traffic, force missed tackles and has shown impressive burst.
Miller has shown enough generate confidence in his ability to be effective. His health is the true X-Factor on offense. It’s pivotal that he is able to stay injury free. If he’s available, forming a tandem of running backs with Alvin Kamara could boost this offense to a new level.
