A new NFL trade rumor presents a potential opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys or Cincinnati Bengals to bolster their run game ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
With just under a week remaining before the 2024 NFL trade deadline, speculation is heating up around several players who may be on the trade block. Among those reportedly available is former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowler Miles Sanders, according to reports from Wednesday.
ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler noted, “From what I’ve gathered, the Carolina Panthers seem keen on keeping Chuba Hubbard, but they’re open to moving Miles Sanders. He’s had 163 carries since joining Carolina on a four-year, $25.4 million deal during the 2023 free agency period. Given that $4.02 million of his salary is guaranteed, the Panthers may need to cover part of it to make a deal happen.”
After a strong season in 2022 with the Eagles that earned him Pro Bowl recognition, Sanders signed a lucrative contract with the Panthers. However, his performance has been underwhelming, though the entire Panthers offense has struggled in the same period.
This makes Sanders an intriguing trade target for teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals, both of whom are in need of a spark in their running game.
Miles Sanders’ stats with the Panthers include 24 games, 571 rushing yards, 257 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, and an average of 3.5 yards per carry.
Following the offseason departure of Tony Pollard from Dallas and the Bengals’ trade of Joe Mixon to the Texans, both teams have struggled to replace those key players. Entering Week 9, both teams rank among the bottom five in rushing offenses, with the Cowboys sitting dead last at 74.1 rushing yards per game. Ezekiel Elliott’s return to Dallas has been lackluster, and the Bengals’ duo of Chase Brown and Zach Moss has also underperformed.
While a trade for Sanders wouldn’t guarantee an immediate fix, the 27-year-old running back thrived in Philadelphia under a solid quarterback and a well-rounded offense, something both Dallas and Cincinnati have. If Carolina is willing to absorb most of his remaining contract, Sanders could be a valuable addition before the November 5 deadline.
