March 17, 2026, 5:55 a.m. CT

New head coach Kellen Moore was hired last offseason by the New Orleans Saints to improve an anemic offense. The passing game took a big jump, especially after the insertion of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough into the lineup. However, the New Orleans rushing attack ranked just 28th in yardage and 31st in yards per carry. As a result, the Saints landed running back Travis Etienne early into free agency.

A native of Jennings, La., Etienne returns home with a four-year contract worth a total of $52 million dollars. Over his four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Etienne had three seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing and 32 total touchdowns. The Saints are banking on filling a huge need with his addition to the backfield.

Travis Etienne signing grade: B

A rookie such as Jeremiyah Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish might have made more sense because of the cheaper price and less wear and tear. However, there was no guarantee that Love would have been available when the Saints chose at eighth overall and there are certainly no guarantees when it comes to rookies. Therefore, New Orleans went with a proven commodity and the second best back available behind Kenneth Walker III.

Since 2022, a span of 68 games, the Saints have had eight run of over 20 yards and just one run of over 30 yards by a running back. In that same span, Etienne has 23 runs of at least 20 yards and 12 runs of over 30 yards. Running back Alvin Kamara has slowed down considerably, either by his own deterioration, play-calling, or both. Etienne was brought on to be the featured back, which should also make Kamara more effective.

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Travis Etienne has excelled in zone-blocking schemes, the system which the Saints showed a tendency to run. He’s also a skilled receiver, though not as good as Kamara, which gives him additional versatility in the scheme. With no guarantee that Love will be avaliable in the draft, the Saints were decisive in filling a major need for their offense. The Etienne-Kamara backfield combination, if that’s what works out, could make the Saints a much more versatile and explosive attack.