Just how good can the New Orleans Saints running backs be? That’s a question Klint Kubiak is setting out to answer by installing his new offense, which will utilize more zone blocking concepts to open lanes and get offensive linemen out in space.
The Saints were below-average in every rushing metric last year, with Taysom Hill’s 401 rushing yards accounting for more of the team’s 21st-ranked total than either Jamaal Williams or Kendre Miller. But it’ll be Alvin Kamara taking point again. So how does that group stack up around the league?
ESPN’s Mike Clay ranked the running backs rooms of all 32 teams after free agency and the NFL draft. Here’s where the Saints landed among their peers:
32. Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Royce Freeman
31. Cincinnati Bengals
Zack Moss, Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams, Chris Evans
30. Las Vegas Raiders
Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, Alexander Mattison, Dylan Laube
29. Los Angeles Chargers
28. Denver Broncos
27. New York Giants
Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell
26. Carolina Panthers
Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Rashaad Penny
25. Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Nyheim Hines, D’Onta Foreman
24. Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, Myles Gaskin
23. Buffalo Bills
James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Darrynton Evans
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, Chase Edmonds, Sean Tucker
21. Tennessee Titans
Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut, Hassan Haskins
20. Arizona Cardinals
James Conner, Trey Benson, Michael Carter, Emari Demercado
19. Houston Texans
Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, Jawhar Jordan
18. New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris, Jamycal Hasty
17. Chicago Bears
D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert, Travis Homer
16. Kansas City Chiefs
15. Los Angeles Rams
Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers, Boston Scott
14. Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, D’Ernest Johnson, Keilan Robinson
13. Washington Commanders
Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols
12. Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson, Aaron Shampklin
10. New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Kendre Miller, Jordan Mims
9. Miami Dolphins
Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Jeff Wilson Jr.
8. Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Evan Hull, Tyler Goodson
7. Baltimore Ravens
Derrick Henry, Keaton Mitchell, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley, Tyrion Davis-Price
5. New York Jets
Breece Hall, Israel Abanikanda, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis
4. Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh, George Holani
3. Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Jase McClellan, Avery Williams
2. Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki
1. San Francisco 49ers
