The signing of Travis Etienne was massive for the offense, but another addition could be made.
One of the New Orleans Saints' main offseason goals was to fix the running game. It makes sense why this was such a priority, especially after a bad year trying to run the ball.
Kellen Moore was missing the home run hitter he continued to bring up throughout the season; there was little to no consistency, injuries were rampant in the room, and the blocking kept allowing plays to be blown up. Moore's offense, like any other offense in the league, needs the running game to unlock everything else, and with Tyler Shough entering year 2, it needed to be fixed so he can have less pressure this season.
In free agency, the Saints signed LG David Edwards and RB Travis Etienne to get this done, and looking at what the players have done at previous destinations, they should help mightily. Focusing on Etienne, he is a clear #1 option and should be the lead back in New Orleans. Although his inconsistency throughout some games, having a good-to-great #2 is also really important.
Currently on the roster, the Saints' other RBs are Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime. One of these players could be RB2 next season, but that might not be good enough. There is a chance Kamara will retire this offseason. Neal had some great moments, but not enough to feel comfortable with him being RB 2. Miller's injuries make it impossible to rely upon him, and Estime is a depth piece. Besides Etienne, this is the current state of the Saints' RB room.
If the Saints truly wanted to get the best run game out there for next season, bringing in one more RB can make that happen. In free agency, there really are no people who stand out, and this direction should be avoided. That leaves the draft.
At pick 8, before free agency, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love was heavily mocked to the Saints. Now, that is not the case, and it's not just because the Saints signed Etienne. Love is expected to go before the Saints' selection, and that could have been the reason why New Orleans made sure to get a top RB in free agency.
So, who can the Saints go with instead? The 2026 draft class is not the strongest, especially among RBs after Love, but there are still some potential Saints selections sprinkled throughout.
Looking at the top potential choice for the Saints, Mike Washington Jr., out of Arkansas, stands out. He was a Senior Bowl participant, very athletic, his strenght makes him a great complement to Etienne, and he has home-run ability. Right now, his draft projection is around the third round, but it could rise as we get closer to the draft.