Corey Kiner Was Heading for Waivers. The Patriots Sent a 2028 Pick to Keep Him Off It.

The New England Patriots made a fascinating move to bolster their running back depth this week, snagging Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals for a 2028 seventh-round pick. This wasn’t some blockbuster deal, but it’s one that tells you everything about New England’s strategy right now, even as our own Seahawks battled to a 9-9 tie against the Kansas City Chiefs in an early season contest.

The Patriots Didn’t Want to Risk It

The real kicker in this whole deal is that the Cardinals were apparently planning to waive Kiner. Let that sink in for a second: the Patriots traded a future pick for a guy who was about to hit the open market. Why? Because New England sits at 31st in the waiver order. They knew there was a solid chance another team would scoop him up before he ever got to them. So, instead of playing the waiting game and hoping for the best, they coughed up a pick nearly two years away just to secure him. That’s a serious commitment for a player the Cardinals were ready to let go, and it shows just how much depth means to them.

Kiner’s Undrafted Spark Last Season

So, who is Corey Kiner, and what kind of talent are the Patriots so eager to lock down? As an undrafted rookie last year, Kiner actually showed some flashes for the Cardinals. He played in four games, carrying the ball 12 times for 58 yards, which is a decent 4.8 yards per carry. He also chipped in with two catches for 15 yards and even returned a kickoff for 22 yards. These aren’t earth-shattering numbers, but for a guy who wasn’t drafted, that’s solid, versatile production. The Cardinals, however, had already loaded up their running back room this offseason, bringing in first-round pick Jeremiyah Love and free agent Tyler Allgeier. That left Kiner without a spot, but now he’s got a fresh start in New England.

Kiner now heads to New England looking to carve out a role and prove that the Patriots’ strategic move was worth the future draft capital. It’ll be interesting to see if he lives up to the early season gamble and gives them that reliable depth they’re clearly hungry for.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.