After a promising finish in 2025, the New Orleans Saints set out to fix their biggest issues and concerns during the offseason in the hopes of continuing to build a contender in the Big Easy. One of the areas New Orleans invested in most through free agency was the rushing attack.
After finishing No. 28 in the NFL last year in total rushing yards, the team signed two big-ticket free agents to help them improve: guard David Edwards and running back Travis Etienne Jr.
With these additions, the Saints are on pace to drastically improve their ground attack.
At times, a team like New Orleans can fall behind in gathering rushing yards because of game situations. The Saints had the second-worst first half scoring margin in the league last year at minus-121. That can often lead a team to abandon its run game in an effort to throw themselves back into the game.
However, further inspection shows that the struggles weren’t always game script based and instead, indications of a per-carry struggle are evident.
New Orleans averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last year, No. 31 in the NFL. The team had the same finish in offensive EPA per designed run as well.
The Saints struggled to produce on the ground on a persistent carry-by-carry basis.
Etienne (who averaged 4.3 yards per carry last year) and Edwards (who has always been noted as a strong run blocker) are the Saints’ best chances to improve those per-rush numbers in 2026. Doing so puts them in a better position to control game clocks, complement their passing game and create a more unpredictable approach to head coach Kellen Moore’s system.
The Saints’ passing game will continue to get a lot of attention headed into, and likely through, the season. But the team’s rushing attack is more likely to be what makes or breaks big games. Extending drives, adding explosive runs and controlling the clock will give the Saints a better command of their opponents and orchestrate a more well-run and balanced offensive gameplan.
With new talent added, perimeter blockers drafted and another dynamic threat added to the backfield, this is an area the Saints have already invested assets into improving. Now, they’ll just have to get the gameplan in place to maximize the team’s revamped attack.
