Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Every offseason, there are underdog players that find their way onto NFL rosters. Looking over the current group of New Orleans Saints players, there are some that meet the underdog criteria, looking to be the next surprise competitors to land a role in the Big Easy.
Sometimes those roles are as consistent contributors. Sometimes they are depth or practice squad players, but in every case, these are major opportunities for those that earn them.
This time, we’re taking a closer look at an undrafted running back that will have a hard time making the 53-man roster, but could be a fantastic developmental asset to keep around on the practice squad.
Running Back Marcus Yarns
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware, Yarns is a shifty, versatile back that excels in space and as a receiver. He has also had some standout performances as a pass blocker in the backfield. He is an impressive outside rusher that has some potential in the passing game if he can further develop his route-running and continue to expand his route tree.
At 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, Yarns has a slight build, but isn’t far off from promising measurement numbers. While he never eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards at Delaware, he has still proven to be productive with 15 rushing touchdowns in 2023, 11 total touchdowns in 2024 and over 3,000 career combined rushing and receiving yards.
A Great Practice Squad Option
The conversation at running back when it comes to the active roster is filled with veteran talent and newly drafted Kansas back Devin Neal. But that doesn’t mean that Yarns won’t have a chance to contribute.
Landing on the practice squad could be a win for both him and the Saints, who could spend time developing Yarns’s skill set further. Growth as a route-runner and familiarity with the system could help him carve out a role should the Saints need to turn to someone to be a multifaceted chess piece in the backfield.
Yarns not only ranked top-ten in the FCS in yards after contact per carry last year (4.22), but also tied for No. 2 in yards per route run with 2.12 behind only Lan Larison of UC Davis.
Looking for a player who could be…
This year’s RB steal of the NFL Draft:
Marcus Yarnspic.twitter.com/PLAQRJ6Cbr
— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) March 5, 2025
Yarns’s Resume
In addition to those successes last year, Yarns finished his collegiate career with an average of 6.4 yards per carry. He carried the ball just 364 times over his four years, navigating injury early in his career. That leaves a lot of tread on the tires for the former Fightin’ Blue Hen. His 4.45-second 40-yard-dash was an important mark for his pre-draft process.
His best season came in 2023 when he ran for 15 rushing touchdowns along with 937 rushing yards. He added another 311 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns catches that season.
At Delaware he found a lot of success running between the tackles, but in the pros and with his size, he’s likely to have to focus on what he can do out in space in order to be most successful.
Yarns shined at the Senior Bowl, particularly in pass-catching drills.
#Saints UDFA RB Marcus Yarns had some very nice pass reps out of the backfield during the Senior Bowl.
Undersized but Saints always seem to find a way with UDFA RBs pic.twitter.com/CW496aJeun— Joe Horns Cell Phone (@JoeHornsPhone) April 27, 2025
Why Yarns Has A Shot
The versatile back could be a good developmental option to provide some relief as a scat back, if needed. The Saints will use numerous backs in a variety of ways, led off by veteran Alvin Kamara. But should the team need to turn to another option alongside Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Velus Jones Jr. for that mold, Yarns’s growth, if it happens quickly, could put him in line for a role over time.
