Former Eagles starter named potential cut candidate this summer

A former Eagles starter could be on the open market soon.

After a productive 2022 campaign in Philadelphia, RB Miles Sanders signed a four-year, $25M deal with the Panthers to be their premier back.

Things didn’t go as planned as Carolina won just two games in Bryce Young’s rookie year. Sanders rushed for 432 total yards, losing snaps to Chuba Hubbard in the process.

In a recent piece on CBS Sports, Sanders was named as a potential cut candidate following the NFL Draft.

The Carolina Panthers moved up into the top half of the second round to select Texans running back Jonathon Brooks on Friday. While Brooks did suffer a torn ACL late in the 2023 season, evaluators say he should be ready to go for the start of training camp.

If he’s back to relative top form, that could spell trouble for Miles Sanders‘ roster status.

Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Panthers last offseason, but was largely a disappointment and lost his starting job to Chuba Hubbard after just five games. Hubbard could now be looked at as the backup to Brooks, which makes Sanders expendable.

If he is a post-June 1 release, Carolina would take on a dead cap charge of just under $7.5 million for the 2024 season and a $2.95 million hit in 2025, which is palatable.

Despite voicing his desire to remain in Philly, the Eagles didn’t re-sign Sanders upon the expiration of his rookie contract and traded for D’Ander Swift instead.

As far as a potential reunion, Philadelphia signed star RB Saquon Barkley this offseason and drafted Clemson standout Will Shipley in the fourth round. With Kenneth Gainwell still in the equation as well, opportunities would be sparse for Sanders. It would be pretty funny to reunite the Penn State RB room though.

In four seasons with the Eagles, Sanders compiled 3,708 yards and 20 TDs behind the league’s top offensive line.

Bryce Young doesn't line up behind the center so his RB has to push him into place. 😬#Panthers #KeepPounding #Saints pic.twitter.com/sxhNM8I2O7

— Dr. Jamie Jakes (@jamjks) September 19, 2023

Mandatory Credit:  Cooper Neill | Getty Images