Running back Kendre Miller is entering his third NFL season for the New Orleans Saints in 2025.
Injuries limited Miller to just 14 games over his first two seasons, but with an improved 2025 roster, he’s poised to be the breakout for the Saints.
Miller had a rather disappointing 2024 season, in which he only saw 39 carries for 148 yards and one score. However, he still managed to shine in multiple games. He rushed for over five yards per carry in three of the six games he played. Miller did this behind an injury-riddled offensive line that ranked 19th in run block win percentage. Averaging that many yards per carry behind sub-par blocking highlights just how much potential Miller truly has.
Although his so-far NFL career has been less than stellar, his talent is undeniable. Per PFF, on only 39 carries last season, Miller forced 13 missed tackles and had six explosive runs of 10+ yards. At the very least, he’s one of the shiftiest backs in the league, even with his small sample size.
WHY KENDRE MILLER WILL SUCCEED IN 2025
In his career at TCU, Miller averaged 6.7 yards per carry on 361 total attempts with 27 touchdowns.
While in college, he showcased his elite abilities of physical strength and quickness. Under new Saints head coach Kellen Moore, we can expect the rushing game to resemble that which suits Miller’s play style. We’ve already seen the massive success Eagles RB Saquon Barkley had in a single season under Moore.
Former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak built his rushing attack around outside runs, but Kellen Moore’s scheme emphasizes inside runs better suited to Miller’s style. Kendre Miller can go back to his TCU roots and play more comfortably in this new system. Because of this, we can fully expect Miller’s third season to be the best of his career.
On top of the new offensive scheme that fits Miller’s skills, the Saints had a chance to load up on the offensive front in the 2025 draft. With the ninth overall pick, the New Orleans Saints selected offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, Jr., out of Texas.
Banks, in his three-year collegiate career, gave up only four total sacks whilst playing a total of 1,477 career passing snaps. For comparison, Patriots fourth overall pick Will Campbell allowed five total sacks in three years at LSU. Both tackles were consensus All-Americans in 2024, and Banks won the Outland Trophy— which is considered the most prestigious accolade awarded to interior offensive linemen.
The selection of Banks makes the OL situation much better and clearer than in the previous two seasons. So far, we have seen a powerful lineup in OTAs that is as so (from left to right): Kelvin Banks, Trevor Penning, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Taliese Fuaga. This lineup seems to be the favorite of Kellen Moore, one that he stated they will stick with, even when the season begins.
Backed by this offensive line, Miller will have no issues finding space to run on the interior all season long.
With the new offensive shift and a revamped, elite offensive line, Kendre Miller finally has the chance to prove to everyone why he was drafted.
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