The New Orleans Saints got top marks for making a major free-agent signing on Monday, boosting the club's offense in the process.
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The New Orleans Saints got top marks for making a major free-agent signing on Monday, boosting the club's offense in the process.
The New Orleans Saints made a major splash on Monday by signing running back Travis Etienne Jr. The move has been met with justified optimism within the organization and the fan base.
It wasn’t just that the Louisiana native was returning to his home state. It was that the filled a clear need for the Saints. Now, the team can focus on bolstering other areas within the lineup.
That said, the club received top marks for Monday’s key free-agent signing. A piece in The Athletic praised the Saints for signing Etienne Jr., getting an A for the move.
But there’s a specific reason why Etienne Jr. chose the Saints over other teams vying to sign him.
“The 27-year-old Etienne had his suitors with the Jaguars wanting to retain him, and the Broncos also showing interest. But ultimately, he decides to go to his native Louisiana to play for the Saints and Kellen Moore, who helped position Saquon Barkley for a career year two seasons ago in Philadelphia.”
The idea of following in Barkley’s footsteps is something too good to pass up for Etienne Jr. He rushed for over 1,000 yards this season and could set career-highs in the right situation. That’s why he signed with New Orleans. So, it makes sense that playing for Moore would give the new Saints running back plenty of incentive to pass over other teams.
Saints Sign Top-10 Free Agent
Of all the free agents on the 2026 market, Etienne Jr. ranked ninth on The Athletic’s list. That’s a major coup for the Saints. While Kenneth Walker III was the best running back available in free agency, the Super Bowl MVP signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
While Walker would have certainly been a fantastic option for New Orleans, the fact is that Etienne was the best fit. The player and club had clear ties to one another, making this signing a slam dunk.
It’s also interesting to note this deal, as the Saints have had some trouble signing top free agents over the last couple of seasons. That’s not the case anymore. So, it remains unclear if New Orleans will continue to go big-game hunting this offseason.
New Orleans Makes Savvy Signing with Edwards
The Saints also made another savvy, seemingly under-the-radar signing with guard David Edwards. He signed a four-year, $61 million deal, leaving Buffalo for New Orleans.
The move is another crucial step in building a solid offensive line to protect QB Tyler Shough. While Edwards is not perfect, he is a solid addition. As such, the Saints’ line will be a little bit tougher to play against this upcoming season.
That’s a crucial situation as Shough and Etienne Jr. will need all the cover they can get. The Saints’ offense is beginning to look deeper and could propel the club out of last place in 2026.
It remains unclear whether further upgrades will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the club looks much better moving forward. But for now, the Saints’ most pressing needs seem to have an answer.