RB Room for the Saints finally feels Complete
Adding Etienne Jr. and keeping everyone healthy will immediately improve the running back room.
The Saints appear to have finally brought some resolution to the on-again, off-again situation surrounding Alvin Kamara.
This saga began on the Friday before free agency when the Saints created cap space by restructuring Kamara's contract without guaranteeing future money. At the time, the move appeared to set the stage for either a trade or a post-June 1 release.
Then, on the first day of free agency, the Saints made a significant move by signing veteran running back Travis Etienne Jr.
Etienne spent the first five years of his career in Jacksonville after being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. A Louisiana native, Etienne brings youth, talent, and explosive playmaking ability to the Saints' backfield.
Since entering the league, Etienne has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in every season in which he received at least 200 carries, with 2024 being the lone exception. He is a complete running back who can run between the tackles, thrive in outside-zone concepts, and contribute as a receiver out of the backfield.
This is the type of pairing Kamara has needed for quite some time.
The addition of Etienne should make the Saints offense more dynamic and versatile in the running game while allowing Kamara to return to the role that made him one of the NFL's most dangerous offensive weapons. Rather than serving as the primary between-the-tackles runner, Kamara can once again be utilized as a playmaker in space where he is at his best.
Of course, after establishing the top two pieces of the running back room, depth becomes the next priority. Fortunately for the Saints, the room appears to be fairly complete.
The Saints drafted Kendre Miller two years ago and selected Devin Neal in last year's draft. Both players have dealt with injury issues early in their careers, though Miller's struggles have been more frequent.
Miller has shown flashes of special talent when healthy. Had injuries not interrupted his development, he may have already emerged as the primary complement to Kamara. However, at the time of this writing, Miller is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during the 2025 season.
That injury came just as Miller was beginning to find his footing in the NFL and showcase the talent that made him a highly regarded prospect coming out of college. Unfortunately, injuries have followed him throughout his professional career. In three seasons, Miller has appeared in just 21 games.
Neal, meanwhile, has an opportunity to establish himself as the third piece in the rotation.
The rookie began to come on late last season after injuries to both Kamara and Miller forced him into a larger role. Neal showed promise during that stretch, but like the backs ahead of him, he also suffered an injury late in the season. A severe hamstring injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year in December.
There is a recurring theme surrounding this running back room. It is loaded with talent and potential, but it is also filled with players who have battled injuries.
Fortunately for the Saints, the most durable member of the group remains Kamara. With Etienne now sharing the workload, the Saints should be able to better manage touches throughout the room, reducing wear and tear while maximizing each player's effectiveness.
If this group can stay healthy, the Saints' rushing attack should improve significantly from its 31st-place finish last season.
Quite simply, there is nowhere to go but up.
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