2026 Patriots Trade for Cardinals 24-Year-Old Running Back
Adam Schefter has reported that the Arizona Cardinals are sending 24-year-old running back Corey Kiner to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 seventh-round pick. Heading into the 2026 season, the Cardinals had a solid foundation at the running back position with 2026 third overall pick Jeremiyah Love, former Atlanta Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier, and James Conner. The complete opposite could be said for New England, as they have Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson; the Patriots need another great back to give them a three-headed monster at the position. Last year, the Patriots had Antonio Gibson, but he was released following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season.
New England currently has Lan Larison and Jam Miller as their third and fourth projected running backs, but Kiner could change the mix of the Patriots’ depth chart. The 24-year-old running back has been waiting for his moment to receive some legitimate playing time on the field. Kiner signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent back in April 2025. By August, he was released by the Niners, but signed with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad a month later. The Cardinals signed Kiner off the Vikings’ practice squad in December, and he was with the team before being traded to New England today. The 24-year-old only played four games with the Cardinals last season, recording 12 rushing attempts for 58 yards and then two receptions for 15 yards. Since receiving that minimal playing time, I’m sure Kiner is itching for more and to make his mark within the league.
So why did the Patriots trade for Kiner? His youth, athleticism, and prowess behind a solid RB like Stevenson, and a breakout rookie performance by Henderson, will put the 24-year-old running back in a great position to succeed. If New England is giving up a draft pick for someone who’s only played four games in the league, they believe he has the potential to really be a difference-maker if given the right chances. They’ll still have to determine if Kiner will have the game plans ready by Week One on September 9th in a Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks, a highly anticipated matchup that the 24-year-old running back wants to take part in.
