The New Orleans Saints are coming off a tough season where they finished last in the NFC South with a 6-11 record. With the team hoping things have changed for the better, they are beginning to be aggressive in free agency and making a major splash. Let’s take a closer look at who they have just signed and what it means going forward for the team.
The New Orleans Saints sign running back Travis Etienne to a contract
Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Etienne Jr., New Orleans Saints
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes for yards during the third quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
The New Orleans Saints made a massive signing on Monday afternoon during the legal tampering period as they signed running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Etienne spent his first four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was a strong running back for the team.
Last season, he played in all 17 games and recorded 260 rushing attempts for 1,107 yards (4.3 yards per carry) with seven rushing touchdowns as well as 36 catches on 52 targets for 292 yards (8.1 yards per reception) with six receiving touchdowns. Now, he will be able to pair with veteran running back Alvin Kamara to help him stay fresh in the backfield.
This move makes the Saints’ offense a bit more intriguing as the two running backs are essentially playing similar roles, so could this make Kamara a bit more expendable? The team can also decide to play with two running backs on the field more often. Either way, Etienne provides another back who can catch passes as well as run the ball 10-20 times per game. It will be interesting to see how the New Orleans Saints offense looks with Etienne in the backfield as the likely starter for the team.