The Saints spent the offseason trying to give Tyler Shough every possible advantage in his second year at quarterback, and that plan included a major investment in the backfield. New Orleans already had Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Alvin Kamara in place, added Jordyn Tyson in the draft even though he’ll miss the first two months, and then made a splash with Travis Etienne Jr.
So far, that move has not paid off.
Etienne’s $48 million deal is already drawing scrutiny, with Alex Kay of Bleacher Report arguing the Saints may be headed toward buyer’s remorse. As Kay put it: "Considering Etienne is being paid as an upper-echelon running back, the Saints need far better returns in the coming weeks before this contract winds up being a significant albatross on their books."
That concern comes from what Etienne has done - and what he hasn’t done - through two games in New Orleans. After a productive season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he rushed for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries and added 36 catches on 52 targets for 292 yards and six touchdowns, his start with the Saints has been far quieter.
He has 17 carries for 71 yards and nine receptions on 11 targets for 38 yards.
The efficiency has slipped, too. Etienne’s 4.2 yards per touch is the lowest of his career and down from 4.7 yards per touch last season. Usage has been part of the issue as well, since his 57% snap count through two weeks is not what the Saints had in mind after committing $48 million, including $28 million guaranteed.
Instead of dominating the backfield, Etienne has been splitting touches with Kamara, CJ Donaldson and Keandre Miller.
It’s still early, and two weeks is not enough to stamp this deal a failure. But the opening stretch has been rough enough to raise eyebrows, especially with Kamara getting so much work. For now, the Saints’ expensive backfield setup is something to watch closely, because the warning signs are already there.
In Other News...
Saints Still Clearly Bother This Buccaneers Legend
Lavonte David is long gone from the field, but the Saints still seem to linger in his football memory. The retired Buccaneers linebacker looked back on the NFC South rivalry and made it clear that New Orleans has held a special place in Tampa Bays history of aggravation, especially from the days when Drew Brees was still steering those Saints teams and wins over them felt hard to come by.
David also pointed to the broader division backdrop, where New Orleans spent years setting the tone under Sean Payton and Brees while Tampa Bay chased it. Even with the Buccaneers playoff win over the Saints standing out as a major turning point, David drew a sharp contrast between how New Orleans carried itself and the more muted approach he associated with other rivals, which says plenty about how deep the Saints-Bucs edge still runs. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Home Opener Could Hinge On One Big Tyler Shough Concern
The Saints are getting ready for their 2026 home opener against the Raiders, and there is a familiar face on the other sideline in former New Orleans offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Las Vegas has been leaning on quarterback Kirk Cousins, while Tyler Shough has given the Saints a promising start by leading the league in several passing categories, which has helped shape the early conversation around what kind of team this can be.
Still, the matchup comes with more than a little uncertainty attached. Both clubs are dealing with injuries and trying to sort out defensive answers, and for New Orleans the biggest question may be how Shough handles the kind of pressure that a veteran coach and a well-schooled Raiders defense can bring. The Saints have reason to feel encouraged, but this game could turn on whether their young quarterback keeps the momentum going when the spotlight gets a little brighter. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans May Hate Where This Pass Rush Question Is Heading
The Saints pass-rush depth took another small but notable hit this week when Michael Heldman surfaced elsewhere, landing on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad after his short New Orleans stint ended with an injury settlement and a waiver. It was a quick turn for the former rookie edge rusher, who had initially been one of the more modest investments the Saints made among their undrafted free agents before roster cuts and health concerns changed the equation.
Heldmans new number in Kansas City is 49, a reminder that the Saints are already watching a player they brought in to help chase quarterbacks continue his development somewhere else. For a New Orleans defense that is still sorting out who can consistently pressure the passer, moves like this tend to linger in the background, because even fringe additions matter when a team is trying to build enough edge depth to survive the long season. [Read more 🡒]