NFL Trade Rumors: Panthers 'Flexible' on Possible Miles Sanders Deal at Deadline

Having already dealt Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens, the Carolina Panthers may not be done making moves ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Panthers are "flexible" on potentially trading veteran running back Miles Sanders if there are teams looking for help in the backfield.

Carolina received a 2025 fifth-round draft pick from the Ravens in exchange for Johnson and sixth-round pick.

It's hard to justify a scenario where the Panthers, given their current situation with a 1-7 record, hold onto a backup running back who might be of more value to another team.

The Panthers gave Sanders a four-year, $25.4 million contract as a free agent in March 2023 to be their starting running back. He didn't take to the job with 586 yards from scrimmage on 156 touches in 16 games last season.

Sanders' 3.3 yards per carry were the third-fewest in the NFL among all running backs with at least 100 attempts during the 2023 campaign.

Chuba Hubbard has surpassed Sanders on the depth chart. He started the Panthers' final 12 games last season and all eight so far in 2024. The 25-year-old has been one of the few bright spots for the offense with 593 yards and three touchdowns on 118 rushing attempts.

Sanders hasn't played more than 42 percent of the offensive snaps in a game this season. His single-game high for rushing attempts is seven, done in back-to-back games in Weeks 2 and 3.

It's not as if Sanders is so valuable as a receiver to be worth keeping on the team. Hubbard has 24 receptions on 26 targets, compared to 19 catches on 24 targets for Sanders.

The biggest potential hurdle to trading Sanders is his contract. Fowler noted the veteran running back still has $4.02 million in guaranteed money left on the deal, some of which would have to be picked up by the Panthers to facilitate a potential trade.

Sanders did prove during his four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles that he can be a quality running back in the right situation. He averaged 1,163 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns per season from 2019 to '22.