It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints backfield needs more juice. No team’s rushing attack has been as explosive in recent years — Odric Estime’s 32-yard touchdown against the Tennessee Titans was the longest score by a running back since Alvin Kamara’s 40-yard run on Christmas Day 2020. Given that this looks like a one-man draft at running back (and there’s no guarantee that Notre Dame star Jeremiah Love will be available when the Saints draft him), the Saints may need to sign help in free agency.
A lot depends on whether Alvin Kamara returns in 2026. He missed six games due to injury and has a salary cap hit of $18.6 million this year, with $18.2 million remaining on the cap if he is released or traded. So he has a big say in what happens next. While the Saints saw some encouraging things from Devin Neal and Kendre Miller, both finished the year on injured reserve. It remains to be seen whether Estime can handle a heavier workload. With all of that in mind, here are some of the top running backs expected to hit free agency:
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Level 1: Established producers in their prime
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Bryce Hall. Hall, 24, could become the most coveted rusher on the market. He should be viewed as a plug-and-play starter for half the league, given his age, ability to make plays and his consistency behind a series of poor offensive lines. Considering how few running backs are expected to be drafted in early April, the bidding for Hall could become intense in March.
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travis etienne jr. Etienne, who turns 27 in January, has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of his four years in the NFL and has 10 yards on 96 career carries, bringing a home run threat to the backfield that the Saints have missed. He scored 28 times alone last season. As a team, the Saints have 34 players on the roster, with only 20 coming from running back.
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Javonte Williams. Williams, 25, got off to a strong start with the Denver Broncos back in 2021 (4.4 yards per carry, 903 yards rushing), but his career was derailed by a complicated knee injury. After signing a proven contract with the Dallas Cowboys, he was finally able to bounce back and look like his old self, setting career highs in rushing yards (1,201) and touchdown runs (11), but a shoulder injury caused him to miss the final game of the year.
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Kenneth Walker III. Walker, 25, is having arguably his best year as a pro in Clint Kubiak’s offense, setting career highs in forced fumbles (61) and running for 10-plus yards (33). He’s recovering well from a season-ending ankle injury in 2024 and should attract plenty of bidders in free agency if he hits the open market. His Seattle Seahawks double-play partner Zach Charbonnet is also having a big year and is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Level 2: Excellent charger, reserved
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Tyler Allgaier. Allgaier, who turns 26 in April, hasn’t had a ball in the Atlanta Falcons’ backfield since his rookie season (when he averaged 4.9 yards per carry), but he’s still been productive as a compliment to Bijan Robinson’s change of pace. He still has plenty of tread on his tires and can help the Saints improve in the red zone, where he’s scored seven touchdowns this year. That’s as many rushing touchdowns as the Saints have as a team.
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Rico Dowdell. Dowdell, 27, is someone well known to Kellen Moore and his staff. They coached him for a few years with the Dallas Cowboys. He has rushed for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Carolina Panthers and scored a career-high six touchdowns, but he wants to be the team’s leading rusher. Depending on Alvin Kamara’s situation, the Saints could offer him that, but he might have to temper his expectations on the open market.
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JK Dobbins. Dobbins, 27, is clearly talented but has struggled to stay healthy. He’s averaged over 5 yards per carry for his career and has the speed to break down defenses in the open field. It’s just durability. He never played a full season and played in just 10 games in 2025.
Level 3: Potential lateral moves
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Brian Robinson. Robinson, who turns 27 in March, has been productive with the San Francisco 49ers (4.3 yards per carry, 54.3% run completion rate) after rushing for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Washington Commanders last year. This could be a great buy-low opportunity for him and the Saints, but he hasn’t shown the home run ability we’re looking for yet.
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Rachad White. White, 27, was a solid performer in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield and rushed for 1,117 yards in 2023. He may not be the consistent big threat that fans hope for, but he will be an upgrade over some of the other players in the New Orleans room. He’s an efficient three-down back who excels at blitzing the ball and covering picks.
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Isaiah Pacheco. Pacheco, who turns 27 in March, got off to a fast start with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, but has been unable to maintain that momentum the last two years. This season, he has been behind Kareem Hunt in the rotation due to a knee injury. It might be worth seeing if a change of scenery and a more favorable scheme can help him make a comeback.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 free agent class: Breece Hall, Travis Etienne lead running backs
