Colts linked as potential trade partner for former Eagles running back

The Indianapolis Colts could use some help at running back and Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report might have a solution for them to look into. Ballentine proposed that the Colts send a sixth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Miles Sanders.

People might have forgotten that Sanders played with the Panthers but he signed a four-year deal with them following the 2022 season. He was coming off the best season of his career in 2022, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns so it wasn't shocking to see a team like the Panthers take a chance on him.

Things didn't go well for Sanders during his first year in Carolina. He rushed for just 432 yards and one touchdown in 16 games and made only five starts.

Why should the Colts trade for Sanders then, you ask? Well, he could be reunited with Shane Steichen, who was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia during Sanders' last two years there and sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for a player.

"Indianapolis would be the optimal landing spot for a Sanders resurgence. His best season came with the Eagles when Shane Steichen served as offensive coordinator. He had 1,347 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 before Steichen left to take the Indianapolis Colts head coach."

- Alex Ballentine

Colts trading for Miles Sanders could make perfect sense

Jonathan Taylor is the starting running back for Indy but he's battled injuries over the past two seasons and has a strong chance to suffer another injury in 2024. This is why adding Sanders to the back field could make sense for the Colts.

If Taylor goes down, the Colts other running back options include Evan Hull, Tyler Goodson, Trey Sermon, Zavier Scott, and Trent Pennix. The most rushing yards any of these guys had in the NFL last year was 160, which was accomplished by Sermon.

In other words, the Colts aren't going to be in a good spot if Taylor has to miss time due to injury. Sanders might not have looked like the same guy in 2023 but reuniting him with Steichen and allowing him to serve in more of a backup role could be just what he needs to recapture that 2022 magic.