With the NFL trade deadline closing in fast, the New Orleans Saints might have just thrown the Denver Broncos an interesting lottery ticket.
The Saints cut 2023 3rd-round pick Kendre Miller, a player who has obviously battled some injury and inconsistency issues in New Orleans. Cutting a 3rd-round pick in the middle of the season isn't exactly the greatest endorsement, but Miller has an intriguing package of physical attributes that could at least have the Broncos thinking: low risk, high reward.
Since Miller is subject to waivers, the Broncos would also have to hope other teams in front of them on the waiver order don't claim him, but the Saints might also be dangling this news out there to see if a team will bite on a last-second trade.
Broncos could take a shot on Kendre Miller after his release from the Saints
Listed at 6-feet, 220 pounds, Miller is a high-cut back with good speed, but he hasn't been able to translate that to many explosives at the NFL level.
His career long for a single carry is 18 yards, and the most he's averaged per carry over the course of a season is 4.1 yards.
So far in the 2026 season, with Travis Etienne dealing with an injury, Miller has gotten his most extensive action yet. He has 66 total touches this year, but only 196 yards from scrimmage to show for it. He has a pair of touchdowns, but also a pair of fumbles.
For Saints fans, waiting for Miller to finally figure things out and stay on the field has perhaps had some level of familiarity and frustration to what Broncos fans experienced with tight end Greg Dulcich once upon a time.
He just turned 24 years old in June, so his NFL story is not yet fully written. It's possible that he could thrive in a new environment with a fresh opportunity.
The Broncos could make some sense.
Miller was drafted by the Saints in 2023, when current Broncos VP of Player Personnel Cody Rager was still with the Saints' organization. Rager was the Saints' Assisstant College Scouting Director when they drafted Miller in the 3rd round, so perhaps he will be able to give an endorsement.
Broncos' depth has been tested at running back in 2026
The Broncos' depth at the running back position has been significantly tested so far this season.
JK Dobbins has not been nearly as good as what we saw during the 2025 season when he was among the top-5 backs in pretty much every major category. He hasn't been creating yardage after contact, he's not adding value in the passing game, and the Broncos have significantly reduced his snaps in the last two games since Jonah Coleman has been back in the fold.
Coleman spent four weeks on IR with an ankle injury this season, although he's looked like a possible RB1 for the team when healthy.
The Broncos recently placed RJ Harvey on IR with a knee injury he suffered at practice, and the earliest he can return to action is December 6 (although that return date is not a certainty).
Tyler Badie has also been on IR this season.
One way or another, the Broncos have to add at the running back position. Whether they put in a claim for someone like Miller or make a blockbuster trade, something has to be done about the lack of depth at this position.
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