One former New Orleans Saints running back has found a new home. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Minnesota Vikings are signing Xazavian Valladay, who signed with the Saints practice squad last season and was let go back in June. Valladay, 27, played college football at Wyoming and Arizona State before turning pro in 2023. In addition to the Saints and Vikings, he has spent time with the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets.
And this means only a handful of players from last year’s Saints team are still without a new squad for 2025. That group includes running back Jamaal Williams (who tried out for the Miami Dolphins, but didn’t get a contract), defensive linemen Camron Peterson and Trajan Jeffcoat, as well as offensive lineman Josh Ball.
Good luck to Valladay in the final week of preseason. He’ll have a few opportunities to make an impression on the Vikings’ decisionmakers before roster cuts are filed on Aug. 26, and every practice rep counts. As for the Saints? Their own depth chart isn’t looking very formidable at running back. Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Marcus yarns, and Cam Akers are all averaging less than three yards per carry through two preseason games. Velus Jones Jr. had some success rushing against the Jacksonville Jaguars’ backups, putting him at 5.6 yards per carry in the preseason, but the 200-pound former wide receiver isn’t exactly a change-of-pace back to compliment Alvin Kamara. The Saints need to keep looking for help in the offensive backfield.