Miles Sanders began his NFL career as a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, and now after being released by the Carolina Panthers, the former Nittany Lion is reportedly heading back to the NFC East to join the Dallas Cowboys.
On Thursday night, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Sanders plans to sign a one-year deal with Cowboys. The financial details of the contract are not yet known.
Despite signing a four-year deal with the Panthers in 2023, Sanders was cut after two seasons in Carolina, allowing the franchise to save just over $5 million against the salary cap. Sanders’s best season as a pro came with in his final year with the Eagles in 2022 when he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns before leaving in free agency. Across two years in Carolina, Sanders totaled 637 rushing yards and just three touchdowns while averaging under 4.0 yards per carry.
The Cowboys struggled to find an answer at running back last season before turning to Rico Dowdle, who managed to clear 1,000 yards on the ground. Dowdle is heading to Carolina to replace Sanders on a one-year deal.
Once Sanders was cut, it seemed unlikely that the former Penn State star would find another home in the NFL, but Dallas is desperate for production out of the backfield. The upcoming 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with running back talent, which has made the market even tougher for veteran running backs, but remarkably the current Penn State backfield could have played a role in Sanders’ new deal.
Both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen returned to Penn State this offseason, despite being draft-eligible. Singleton was likely to be a Day 2 draft pick, and with two more talented running backs on the draft board, Dallas may not have felt compelled to bring Sanders in on a one-year deal. While this contract gives the six-year veteran some security, he’ll likely be forced to compete for a roster spot if Dallas selects a running back next month.
The Cowboys are rumored to be a possible first-round destination for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who the Nittany Lions bottled up in the Fiesta Bowl.