The New Orleans Saints made a move on Monday hinting at something bigger down the line, particularly at the 2026 NFL Draft.
Getty
The New Orleans Saints made a move on Monday hinting at something bigger down the line, particularly at the 2026 NFL Draft.
The New Orleans Saints made a major splash on Monday, signing running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year deal.
That’s a move that had to happen. The Saints had a terrible year on the ground in 2025. The team managed just 1,600 yards on the ground, with Alvin Kamara leading the team with just 471 on 131 carries.
After that, the Saints’ ground game fell off a cliff. The team managed just nine rushing TDs all season, highlighting the need for someone to take over the running game.
That’s what Etienne brings to the table. The former Jacksonville Jaguars rusher ran for over 1,100 yards this past season in all 17 games. He’s also a solid threat in the air, racking up over 1,300 receiving yards over the last four years.
Adding Etienne is no doubt a solid move. Etienne and Kamara could become a solid duo for QB Tyler Shough. While the move in itself is big, there could be more to it.
Another one of the Saints’ biggest needs is a solid wide-out. By landing Etienne, the Saints can use their eighth-overall pick to target a receiver at the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s why making this signing now is a crucial step towards building a highly successful offensive threat around the team’s new starting QB.
Saints Could Target WR at 2026 NFL Draft
One of the targets that could have been on the Saints’ radar at the 2026 NFL Draft was running back Jeremiyah Love. However, his excellent combine has pushed him up most pre-draft rankings.
Tankathon shows Love going at number four to the Tennessee Titans. If the Saints had envisioned drafting Love, that ship has likely sailed.
That’s why the pivot Etienne makes sense. But it also opens the door for the Saints to take a receiver at number eight. The best receiver available in the draft this year is Carnell Tate out of Ohio State. While Tankathon shows Tate going at number 11 to the Miami Dolphins, it would hardly be a reach for the Saints to pick up Tate in the top 10.
That said, the Saints may just go ahead and take the best player available in the first round and focus on a wide-out in the second. Tankathon shows New Orleans picking up Chris Brazzell II out of Tennessee with the 42nd-overall pick.
At 6’4” and 198 pounds, Brazzell would not be a bad choice. He had 1,017 receiving yards on 62 catches last season.
New Orleans Could Target Best Available Player in 1st Round
If the Saints pick up a WR in the second round, that opens the door for the team to pick up someone like Rueben Bain Jr. with the eighth-overall pick. Bain had a fantastic year at Miami, notching 54 tackles and 9.5 sacks to go with one interception and a forced fumble.
That’s the sort of defensive player New Orleans could use on the defensive side of the ball. As such, waiting till the second round for a receiver makes sense. Still, the Saints may end up prioritizing the offensive side of the ball much more than the defensive side.
In the meantime, Monday’s signing was a major victory for New Orleans. Saints fans have to be optimistic about the fantastic signing.