The Kansas City Chiefs have received a surprising boost from veteran running back Kareem Hunt following Isiah Pacheco’s fibula injury. However, the team cannot depend on the 29-year-old back to handle over 20 touches per game in the long term, which is why a trade for another running back before the November 5 NFL trade deadline remains a possibility.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a trade scenario where the Chiefs would send a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for veteran running back Miles Sanders and a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick.
“Sanders has a higher ceiling than any current Chiefs back, and with experience playing under Doug Pederson, he could adapt quickly to Andy Reid’s offense,” Barnwell explained on October 17. “Once Pacheco returns, Sanders could fill the Jerick McKinnon role as a change-of-pace option. The pick swap would only occur if Sanders plays an offensive snap for Kansas City in the postseason, making this a low-risk move.”
Miles Sanders’ Background
Sanders, 27, was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. As the second-highest RB drafted that year — just behind Josh Jacobs — Sanders posted one 1,000-yard season, which came in 2022, his last year in Philadelphia.
Across his four years with the Eagles, Sanders accumulated 3,708 yards on 739 carries — averaging 5.0 yards per carry — along with 20 touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference.
In the 2023 offseason, Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million contract with the Panthers to serve as their lead running back. However, poor performances from Sanders and strong outings from backup Chuba Hubbard over the 2023 and 2024 seasons have demoted Sanders to a backup role. With rookie Jonathon Brooks, the Panthers’ second-round pick, approaching his NFL debut, Sanders is poised to slide to third on the depth chart.
Releasing Sanders would only save the Panthers $200,000 this season, but it would free up $12.2 million over the next two seasons, according to Over The Cap. Trading him could give Carolina some draft capital in return for a player they have barely used this year.
Is Sanders a Fit for the Chiefs?
As a veteran who could be acquired for a Day 3 draft pick, Sanders would be a solid addition for the Chiefs, providing a reliable rotational piece alongside Hunt.
While Clyde Edwards-Helaire will soon return to the lineup, and rookie Carson Steele is still on the roster, Sanders could add some spark to the running game and contribute as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.
The trade would ultimately hinge on how much of Sanders’ salary the Panthers are willing to absorb. Sanders’ contract guarantees $6.02 million this season, and he is still owed approximately $2.7 million, according to Over The Cap. With the Chiefs holding $4.2 million in cap space, per the NFLPA Public Salary Cap Report, the deal could be financially feasible.
