Patriots Add Backfield Depth
New England Patriots Acquire Running Back Corey Kiner From Arizona Cardinals
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Key Points
1
In four preseason games, Corey Kiner rushed 39 times for 180 yards (4.6 yards per carry), forced nine missed tackles and averaged 2.7 yards after contact, while catching five passes for 28 yards, with Pro Football Focus listing him among the NFL's top preseason running backs.
2
Kiner opened the Hall of Fame Game with a one-yard inside run, illustrating a downhill, short-yardage running style that scouts associate with goal-line and between-tackle runs.
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New England acquired Kiner for a 2028 seventh-round pick to secure him ahead of waivers, leveraging their 31st waiver-position status to ensure a land rather than risk losing him.
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Kiner is expected to be the Patriots' No.3 running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, with a competition pool that includes Hassan Haskins, Lan Larison, Jam Miller, and JaMycal Hasty.
The New England Patriots acquired running back Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals for a 2028 seventh-round pick, adding depth to their backfield ahead of roster cuts NBC Sports. Kiner, an undrafted rookie from LSU and Cincinnati, impressed in the preseason with 39 carries for 180 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and five receptions for 28 yards across four games for Arizona NBC Sports.
Why Patriots Moved Fast on Kiner
Arizona planned to waive Kiner, but the Patriots acted first to secure him via trade Mass Live. New England's 31st waiver-priority position made trading smarter than waiting to claim him. A 2028 seventh-round pick was worth the risk of losing a promising young back to another team Heavy.
Strong Preseason Performance Signals Upside
Kiner caught scouts' attention in August. He rushed 39 times for 180 yards and forced nine missed tackles NBC Sports. He averaged 2.7 yards after contact and scored two touchdowns. Pro Football Focus ranked him among the NFL's top preseason running backs NBC Sports. His downhill running style works for short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Fitting In Behind Stevenson and Henderson
Kiner becomes the Patriots' third running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson Sports Hub. He'll compete with Hassan Haskins, Lan Larison, Jam Miller, and JaMycal Hasty for snaps. The move gives New England insurance at a key position as the regular season starts Mass Live. Kiner's combination of rushing power and pass-catching ability adds flexibility to the offense.
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