Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
As the New Orleans Saints approach training camp ahead of the 2026 NFL season, the team has a prime opportunity to take a considerable step forward. One of the ways the team has focused its offseason resources and efforts to taking that step is by investing heavily in its rushing offense.
Additions like running back Travis Etienne Jr. and guard David Edwards in free agency as well as active blockers at wide receiver and tight end Oscar Delp in the draft are expected to help New Orleans develop its rushing attack further in 2026.
New Orleans finished the 2025 season ranked No. 28 in total rushing yards, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt, good for No. 31 in the league.
The offense will need to make massive strides in improving its overall and per-carry efficiency in order to improve in this area.
Edwards was a part of the offensive line that helped to pave the way for the No.1 rushing offense in the league last season while Etienne produced his third 1,000-yard rushing season in four career years. Both are sure to give the Saints what they need to get back on the right side of the run game conversation in 2026.
While the future of running back Alvin Kamara remains concerningly uncertain, the team has pulled off some promising moves this offseason to still see progress with its game out of the backfield.
With a young quarterback at the helm in second-year passer Tyler Shough, having a productive rushing offense is vital.
Head coach Kellen Moore has the experience with generating successful ground attacks in his previous stops. Translating the success to New Orleans would be the most immediate way for the Saints to fulfil their ambitions of returning to competitive status inside of their division and conference.
The Saints have not finished with a top-10 rushing offense since the 2020 season, meaning that their struggles in 2025 weren’t isolated. However, it also shows that the team’s run game concerns are a prolonged issue, a trend the team would love to shake this season.
