The Patriots are trading a 2028 seventh-round draft pick for Cardinals running back Corey Kiner.
In an ensuing move, the Patriots announced they released running back Hassan Haskins.
Kiner is a second-year back who played in the final four weeks of his rookie season, recording 12 carries for 58 yards, plus two receptions for 15 yards. He entered the league with the 49ers as an undrafted rookie who played his college football at LSU and Cincinnati. Between San Francisco and Arizona, Kiner also spent time on the Vikings’ practice squad last year. He stands at 5-foot-9 and 210 pounds.
Over four preseason games this summer, Kiner graded out as one of the NFL’s top-performing running backs at Pro Football Focus. He rushed for 180 yards on 39 carries, good for a 4.6 yards per carry average. He also forced nine missed tackles and averaged 2.7 yards after contact, while catching five passes for 28 yards as a receiver.
Kiner now projects to be the Patriots’ new No. 3 running back after Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. The other backs in competition for the job were Haskins, Lan Larison, rookie Jam Miller and JaMycal Hasty. Haskins and Hasty signed to the roster midway through training camp.
The Patriots are waiving wide receivers Cameron Dorner and Nick DeGennaro, offensive linemen Jacob Rizy, Darrian Dalcourt and Jon’Darius Morgan, safeties Eric Butler and Peter Manuma, and cornerback Marcellas Dial, per sources.
Per reports, the Patriots are also waiving tight end CJ Dippre, wide receiver Kyle Dixon, outside linebackers Xavier Holmes, Jesse Luketa and Amari Gainer, linebacker Riley Wilson, cornerback Brandon Crossley, offensive lineman Lorentz Metz and running back JaMycal Hasty.
They have 21 more moves to make before Sunday’s official cutdown date at 6 p.m. ET.
New England Patriots tight end CJ Dippre makes a catch in front of Philadelphia Eagles safety Cole Wisniewski during a joint training camp practice. Matt Stone/Boston Herald
The Patriots made most of their cuts on Friday night to get out ahead of what should be a busy Sunday morning and afternoon. They have difficult decisions to make at quarterback and in their front seven at defensive tackle, outside linebacker and inside linebacker.
They also must decide if they’re keeping outside linebacker Harold Landry on the PUP list and if safety Brenden Schooler is staying on the NFI list. If both players stay on PUP/NFI, then they’ll be required to miss at least the first four games of the season.
Patriots guard/center Ben Brown, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant and punter Bryce Baringer are also dealing with injuries. If they’re placed on injured reserve on the cutdown date, then they’ll also be required to miss the first four games of the season.
The Patriots can activate a total of eight players off of IR during the season. Landry and Schooler would not be counted among those eight players if they begin the year on PUP/NFI.