ESPN’s latest positional voting didn’t put a Saints player in the top 10, but it still delivered a pretty loud hint about New Orleans’ backfield. Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara both picked up votes in the running back rankings, and that alone says plenty about how the league is viewing the Saints’ tandem.
Etienne showing up in the mix makes sense. Kamara getting any attention at all is the part that stands out, especially after what the source describes as the worst year of his career at his age. Whether that vote was a sign someone still believes he has juice left or just a nod to his name, the result was the same: Kamara’s name was in the conversation.
And that matters for the Saints, because they don’t have a single back sitting near the top of the position, but they do have something else that can be just as valuable. No other team had two players on the list. That puts New Orleans in a pretty specific lane - not a team with one elite bell cow, but one with two backs who can share the load and keep defenses guessing.
That’s the real selling point here. Etienne and Kamara can both hurt teams as runners and receivers, which means opponents can’t just read the personnel and know what’s coming. That kind of flexibility doesn’t always show up in one giant stat line, but it can shape an offense in a major way.
It also helps explain why the Saints may be better off keeping the two together. The front office may have its doubts, but the rankings offer another reason to trust the pairing.
New Orleans doesn’t have a Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson type at the top of the position, and there’s a fair case for preferring those kinds of duos. Still, the Saints have two backs who are good, versatile, and interchangeable.
Etienne isn’t being asked to be a 1,400-yard workhorse or to take over games the way Gibbs might. What he brings is explosiveness and the kind of production that can get you to 1,000 yards. Put that next to Kamara, and the Saints have a tandem with a real chance to power one of the league’s better rushing attacks.
In Other News...
Saints Backfield Suddenly Feels Like A Franchise Turning Point
The Saints have spent years trying to find a rushing identity that sticks, and this offseason they made a clear bet on Travis Etienne to help change that. New Orleans has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Mark Ingram in 2017, a drought that has lingered long enough to become part of the franchises larger offensive frustration, and the hope now is that Etienne can give Kellen Moore a more reliable foundation to build around.
Etienne arrives with the kind of resume the Saints have been missing, including multiple 1,000-yard seasons and the burst to alter games with one carry. There is still a bigger roster question hanging over the backfield, though, and it is one that could shape how quickly this move pays off as New Orleans tries to climb out of its recent rushing struggles. [Read more 🡒]
Former Saints Lineman Is Suddenly On Verge Of A Much Bigger Role
Malcolm Roachs NFL path has been a steady climb since he arrived in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the Saints, and that kind of persistence has a way of earning notice. He spent four seasons in New Orleans before moving on, and the production has ticked up along the way as hes carved out a bigger place for himself on a defensive line that values toughness and versatility.
Now Roach is again positioned for a meaningful step forward, with his current team viewing him as a strong bet to make the 53-man roster and possibly factor into the starting mix up front. For the Saints, it is another reminder of a player who developed into a useful pro after beginning his career in New Orleans, and for Roach it could mean the biggest role yet if the opportunity in front of him holds. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Shoughs Next Step Could Define The Saints 2026 Offense
Tyler Shough is heading into a second NFL season that could say a lot about where the Saints offense is going next. New Orleans believes the young quarterback has already shown the kind of poise and leadership that can steady a huddle, and now he gets something every developing passer wants: continuity in the system, a clearer sense of what the staff wants, and a better chance to settle in without learning on the fly.
Kellen Moores offense is built around efficiency and balance, which is a natural fit for Shough, and the Saints have tried to give him a more workable environment around it. The group in front of him should be healthier, the supporting cast has been upgraded, and the expectation is that cleaner pockets and more play-action chances can help Shough take the next step, even if the biggest answer about his future still has to be earned on the field. [Read more 🡒]