Patriots trade late pick to jump waiver queue for Corey Kiner

New England held the 31st claim in the order.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 301 min read

RB Corey Kiner: 🏈 5-foot-9, 209 pounds 🏈 Time with 49ers (signed as undrafted free agent in 2025), Vikings, Cardinals Via @MikeReiss on X

What happened: Arizona received a 2028 seventh-round pick in the completed deal. Kiner, 24, entered the NFL with San Francisco in 2025 before stints with Minnesota and Arizona.

Why it matters: Arizona was likely to cut Kiner, per Mike Reiss, but 30 teams held waiver priority over New England. The trade eliminated that exposure before the 53-man roster deadline.

By the numbers: Kiner has 73 yards from scrimmage in four NFL games: 58 rushing yards on 12 carries and 15 receiving yards on two catches. He also returned one kickoff for 22 yards.

What to watch: New England must reduce its roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET Sunday. Kiner's role in the reworked backfield will come into focus after the deadline.

Sources

@MikeReiss 2026-08-30T11:47:38.447788+00:00

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NFLTradeNew England PatriotsArizona CardinalsSan Francisco 49ersCorey Kiner

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