Report: Cardinals trade RB Corey Kiner to the Patriots for 2028 7th-round draft pick

The Arizona Cardinals traded running back Corey Kiner to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 seventh-round draft pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The news comes as the Cardinals make their first move toward finalizing their 53-man roster ahead of the roster-cutdown deadline on Sunday.

Kiner entered the NFL in 2025 with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Cincinnati. After being waived by the 49ers in August and spending time on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, he was signed by the Cardinals in December and played in four games.

Kiner played in all four games for the Cardinals in the preseason, rushing for 182 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 35 yards on just five carries in the Cardinals’ preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers on Friday.

The second-year running back was likely going to have a tough time making Arizona’s 53-man roster with rookie Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier headlining the Cardinals’ running back room. Veteran James Conner continues to work his way back from a season-ending foot injury last season. Bam Knight is another player who could be the Cardinals’ RB3 with Conner out.

Kiner’s trade comes as another move in the Cardinals’ running back room after Arizona waived running back Trey Benson on Monday.

Related

Cardinals’ toughest 53-man roster decisions come down to 3 roomsCardinals 53-man roster projection ahead of cutdown dayWhich Cardinals helped their cause vs. Packers as 53-man roster cuts loom?Cardinals’ Simi Fehoko keeps lighting it up this preseasonWhere are the Cardinals in ESPN analyst Ben Solak’s watchability rankings?Bickley: Arizona sports need to find their way out of the yuck