Saints Risk It All: $113M Splash on Run Game Leaves Defense in the Dust

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints just torched the first week of 2026 free agency by dropping $113 million on two offensive players, yet the biggest name in the building hasn’t even picked up a phone. While General Manager Mickey Loomis secured Travis Etienne Jr. and David Edwards to revitalize the ground game, the trade market for Derek Carr’s contract rights has gone completely silent. In a week defined by aggression, the Saints acted like a team one piece away from a Super Bowl, even as their secondary started to crumble.

The $52 Million Backfield Pivot

New Orleans didn’t just dip their toes into the market; they jumped into the deep end for Travis Etienne Jr. The Louisiana native signed a four-year, $52 million contract to return home. On paper, the move makes sense for a team that finished 28th in rushing yards per game in 2025. Etienne is younger, faster, and more explosive than a 30-year-old Alvin Kamara. But the math gets fuzzy when you realize Kamara is still on the books and the defense just lost its best young cornerback.

The Saints also fortified the trenches with guard David Edwards on a massive four-year, $61 million deal. Edwards is a brick wall who allowed only three sacks last season in Buffalo. He’s the veteran presence Tyler Shough needs, but signing a guard alone doesn’t fix a passing attack that relies almost entirely on Chris Olave’s health. If Olave goes down, $113 million in “help” won’t save a sophomore quarterback from stacked boxes.

Defensive Exodus: The Alontae Taylor Hole

The spending spree looks even more lopsided when you look at the exit door. Alontae Taylor, the defense’s most versatile cover man, bolted for the Tennessee Titans on a deal worth roughly $20 million annually. Losing Taylor is a gut punch to a secondary that already lacks proven depth. Replacing a lockdown slot corner with a high-priced running back is a choice that usually backfires in the modern, pass-heavy NFL.

Compounding the leadership void is the departure of Demario Davis. While Kaden Elliss returned on a three-year, $33 million deal to help the linebacker room, he isn’t the defensive maestro Davis was. The Saints are getting younger and more expensive, but they are undeniably thinner on the side of the ball that kept them alive during last year’s dismal 2-10 start.

“Coming back to Louisiana… it wasn’t even a choice. It was a no-brainer. I grew up watching the black and gold, and seeing what Tyler [Shough] did at the end of last year? I wanted to be a part of that energy.”
— Travis Etienne Jr., Saints Running Back

The Sophomore Surge or Sophomore Slump?

Everything in New Orleans now rests on the shoulders of Tyler Shough. The 2025 Pepsi Rookie of the Year proved he could play, finishing last season with a 103.3 passer rating over the final month. The Saints are betting that a dominant run game will make Shough’s life easier. It’s a classic “protect the young QB” strategy, but it ignores the reality of the NFC South. You don’t win this division by grinding out four-yard carries while the opposition torches your backup cornerbacks.

The Derek Carr situation remains the elephant in the room. No team has called about a trade. If the Saints can’t move that contract or find a way to flip the narrative, they might enter the 2026 season with the league’s most expensive backfield and its most vulnerable secondary. They’ve built a flashy engine, but they might have forgotten to check if the car has tires.