Which of the New Orleans Saints’ picks in the 2023 NFL draft was your favorite? Was it one of their early headlining picks? A third-day pickup that could be a diamond in the rough? Or one of the two players they traded up to go get?
ESPN senior writer Todd McShay shared his take on the best value picks in the 2023 draft class, and he’s a big fan of the move the Saints made in Round 3 to acquire TCU running back Kendre Miller. We’ll let him tell it:
The Saints have Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams, but Miller is going to see some touches in this offense. The 215-pound back averaged 6.7 yards per carry over three seasons, and he just ran for nearly 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022. Miller can ski through traffic, weaving in and out of cuts without losing speed, and he has the field vision to find holes. The agility and lower-body flexibility really pop on tape, though he’s not an overpowering back by any means, and he is just adequate in the pass game.
There’s also the current Kamara situation, which could result in a suspension at some point. He pleaded not guilty in March to felony and misdemeanor charges for battery after allegedly punching, kicking and stomping a man in Las Vegas during Pro Bowl week. So adding depth to the running back room could be even more important if the Saints are without Kamara at some point.
The Saints were in the bottom half of the NFL in rushing last season (4.3 yards per carry), and Williams will definitely help, but Miller should be able to sprinkle in some big gains when he gets touches. The only thing truly standing between Miller and a big role in the pros is his receiving skills, which he’ll need to improve on.
I’ve been high on Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener for most of the draft cycle and want to acknowledge my guy, too. At 6-foot, he’s an undersized baller with plus accuracy, and he can develop into a solid backup behind Derek Carr if Jameis Winston doesn’t return in 2024.
We’re high on Miller, too — he brings some much-needed fresh legs and big-play ability to the running backs room, and he certainly isn’t lacking for confidence. As McShay observed, he’ll be tough to keep off the field especially if Kamara if misses time with a suspension. If Miller weren’t rehabbing a December knee injury (which should be well behind him come training camp), he may have been drafted much higher.
Having Kamara backed up by Miller and Williams is a dramatic improvement over the depth chart the Saints trotted out last year, which asked a lot of a couple of past-their-prime veterans in Mark Ingram II and David Johnson. The Saints have gotten younger and more dynamic at running back. Let’s see if it pays off.
