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Running back Alvin Kamara has been the focal point of the New Orleans Saints offense for several seasons. At times in the last few years, Kamara has been the only consistent source of production for the Saints. One of the NFL's most versatile threats for his entire career, Kamara has given defenses fits since entering the league in 2017.
Over the last few years, Kamara's production has taken a significant dip. This has been due to a combination of play-calling, misusing him, and Kamara's own potential decline. In 2025, Kamara averaged 42.8 rushing yards per game, 3.6 per carry, 60 total yards per game, 5.6 per catch, and scored just one touchdown in 11 games. All were the worst numbers of his nine-year career by a wide margin.
Kamara turns 31 this offseason. It's been widely projected that the Saints will add a featured back to join him. Many mock drafts have linked New Orleans to Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love in the first round of the draft. However, there are also several very talented running backs that will be avaliable in free agency that would significantly upgrade the New Orleans backfield.
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
With the Jets putting the franchise tag on Breece Hall, Walker and Etienne are the two remaining available backs that can transform an entire offense upon their arrival. Both may come at a significant cost because of their age and previous production. The Super Bowl LX MVP, Walker also had 1,027 rushing yards during the regular season while sharing backfield duties. In four years with the Seattle Seahawks, he has two 1,000-yard seasons and another with over 900 yards on the ground while catching 133 passes for 1,005 yards. Walker has breakaway speed in space, but is also a bruiser who can pick up tough inside yardage.
Etienne is a back more like Kamara, someone who thrives in space and threatens opponents with his versatility. In four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Etienne rushed for over 1,000 yards three times and added 168 receptions for 1,338 yards and scored 32 touchdowns. He had 1,107 rushing yards and added another 292 on 36 receptions last year with the Jaguars.
Tier 2 contains backs who can be spot starters and have been extremely successful in shared backfields. Gainwell is a very versatile back who played for Saints coach Kellen Moore in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He rushed for 537 yards and caught 73 passes for 486 yards with 8 total touchdowns with the Steelers in 2025, all career-best numbers.Dobbins has flashed the ability and production of a featured back, but injuries have been a concern throughout his career. Over the last two years with the Chargers and Broncos, he's missed 12 games but still had 1,677 rushing yards and 13 scores. Allgeier is an extremely physical north-south runner who had a 1,000-yard as a starter but has been relegated to limited touches behind Bijan Robinson in recent years.
Tier 3 are runners that had some limited success early on and are looking to revitalize their careers. They'll likely be available on fairly inexpensive one-year contracts as backups and should even be available later on in free agency. Mixon has had the most career production of the group with the Bengals but was barely used in Houston last season. Pierce, Dillon, Robinson, and Harris are physical inside runners who could offer a change of pace to the starter.Saints outlook in free agency
Probably more than any other position, the Saints approach to running backs in free agency will dictate their draft strategy. If they take a big swing and get Walker or Etienne, then Jeremiyah Love or any other back will not be a target in Day 1 or 2. Signing Dobbins, Allgeier, or even Gainwell could rule out Love in the first round, but doesn't necessarily mean the Saints won't target a back like Mike Washington from Arkansas or the Penn State duo of Kaytron Allen or Nicholas Singleton on the second day.
New Orleans has a major need at running back. Kamara will likely still be a factor for the Saints in 2026, but the offense needs a difference making runner. Love could still be a draft target, but may also be off the board by the eighth choice. Expect the Saints to come out of free agency with a new running back. Which one will tip their hand at least a little to their approach in the draft.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency preview: Potential running back targets for Saints
Continue reading...
Over the last few years, Kamara's production has taken a significant dip. This has been due to a combination of play-calling, misusing him, and Kamara's own potential decline. In 2025, Kamara averaged 42.8 rushing yards per game, 3.6 per carry, 60 total yards per game, 5.6 per catch, and scored just one touchdown in 11 games. All were the worst numbers of his nine-year career by a wide margin.
Kamara turns 31 this offseason. It's been widely projected that the Saints will add a featured back to join him. Many mock drafts have linked New Orleans to Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love in the first round of the draft. However, there are also several very talented running backs that will be avaliable in free agency that would significantly upgrade the New Orleans backfield.
Running back free agents
Tier 1
- Kenneth Walker III (age 25)
- Travis Etienne (27)
Tier 2
- J.K. Dobbins (27)
- Kenneth Gainwell (27)
- Tyler Allgeier (27)
Tier 3
- Dameon Pierce (26)
- Joe Mixon (30)
- A.J. Dillon (28)
- Brian Robinson (27)
- Najee Harris (28)
With the Jets putting the franchise tag on Breece Hall, Walker and Etienne are the two remaining available backs that can transform an entire offense upon their arrival. Both may come at a significant cost because of their age and previous production. The Super Bowl LX MVP, Walker also had 1,027 rushing yards during the regular season while sharing backfield duties. In four years with the Seattle Seahawks, he has two 1,000-yard seasons and another with over 900 yards on the ground while catching 133 passes for 1,005 yards. Walker has breakaway speed in space, but is also a bruiser who can pick up tough inside yardage.
Etienne is a back more like Kamara, someone who thrives in space and threatens opponents with his versatility. In four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Etienne rushed for over 1,000 yards three times and added 168 receptions for 1,338 yards and scored 32 touchdowns. He had 1,107 rushing yards and added another 292 on 36 receptions last year with the Jaguars.
Tier 2 contains backs who can be spot starters and have been extremely successful in shared backfields. Gainwell is a very versatile back who played for Saints coach Kellen Moore in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He rushed for 537 yards and caught 73 passes for 486 yards with 8 total touchdowns with the Steelers in 2025, all career-best numbers.Dobbins has flashed the ability and production of a featured back, but injuries have been a concern throughout his career. Over the last two years with the Chargers and Broncos, he's missed 12 games but still had 1,677 rushing yards and 13 scores. Allgeier is an extremely physical north-south runner who had a 1,000-yard as a starter but has been relegated to limited touches behind Bijan Robinson in recent years.
Tier 3 are runners that had some limited success early on and are looking to revitalize their careers. They'll likely be available on fairly inexpensive one-year contracts as backups and should even be available later on in free agency. Mixon has had the most career production of the group with the Bengals but was barely used in Houston last season. Pierce, Dillon, Robinson, and Harris are physical inside runners who could offer a change of pace to the starter.Saints outlook in free agency
Probably more than any other position, the Saints approach to running backs in free agency will dictate their draft strategy. If they take a big swing and get Walker or Etienne, then Jeremiyah Love or any other back will not be a target in Day 1 or 2. Signing Dobbins, Allgeier, or even Gainwell could rule out Love in the first round, but doesn't necessarily mean the Saints won't target a back like Mike Washington from Arkansas or the Penn State duo of Kaytron Allen or Nicholas Singleton on the second day.
New Orleans has a major need at running back. Kamara will likely still be a factor for the Saints in 2026, but the offense needs a difference making runner. Love could still be a draft target, but may also be off the board by the eighth choice. Expect the Saints to come out of free agency with a new running back. Which one will tip their hand at least a little to their approach in the draft.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency preview: Potential running back targets for Saints
Continue reading...
