By Ross Jackson
The room may be shrinking, but the running back competition is fierce. As the New Orleans Saints inch closer to their highly-anticipated training camp period, there are a number of camp battles shaping up for both starter and key depth roles.
One of the most intriguing competitions coming out of the team’s offseason programs is the one brewing at running back.
The starter is certain with veteran back Alvin Kamara already sure to be the focal point of new head coach Kellen Moore’s run game. But with the team potentially without do-it-all offensive weapon Taysom Hill, who has been its second-leading rusher every year since 2021, another back is going to have to step up.
The Competitors
After waiving running back Xazavian Valladay this week, the competition has thinned slightly. However, there are still a lot of names to account for behind Kamara. The team went from having six backs competing for the remaining spots to five. That’s still a populated battle.
Those vying for a spot are veteran backs Cam Akers, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Velus Jones Jr. and Kendre Miller along with rookie backs Devin Neal and Marcus Yarns.
Edwards-Helaire and Miller are returning for another year, Neal was drafted in the sixth round this year, Jones and Akers were added in free agency, and Yarns was signed as an undrafted free agent.
What It Will Take To Win
Logic says that the best way to complement the eclectic and versatile Kamara, who can make plays in space and in the passing game as good as anyone at his position, would be to add a bruising runner.
Thinking back to the successful tandems the team has seen in the past by pairing rushers like Mark Ingram and Latavius Murray with Kamara, it’s hard to picture any other path to success.
Backs like Akers, Miller and Neal all look to most immediately check the box as inside, one-cut runners. Meanwhile Edwards-Helaire, Jones and Yarns check boxes as versatile and multi-faceted players. Each can contribute in a variety of ways as well.
The player that proves to be the most efficient and most effective will ultimately be the one that gets the most of the leftover snaps following Kamara’s lion’s share.
Pass protection will be a very important factor as well, especially with a young quarterback starting this year.
Is There A Front-Runner?
It’s hard to say without having seen padded practices or even full-team drills. But with Miller’s ability to break tackles and pick up yards after contact, if he can just stay healthy, he would be hard to rule out.
Meanwhile Neal being drafted, even in the sixth round, is hard to ignore. Durability and tough running are his calling cards, both of which New Orleans would benefit from mixing into its game.
Each of these backs, however, should be considered very much in the race to not only make the roster, but have a meaningful role in the offense.
