Saints get torched over $52 million free agency move

The New Orleans Saints ended 2025 with some hope for the future with Tyler Shough, and as free agency gets underway, the franchise, it appears, wants to get the most it can out of Tyler.

The big move of the day for New Orleans came when the franchise signed Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million deal.

Already with Alvin Kamara on the roster, the move for Etienne was seen as a little odd, but it gives Shough two genuine weapons out of the backfield.

But not everyone is on board with the move.

ESPN's Seth Walder graded it as a "C-" and isn't a fan of the signing.

"For the first time in what seems like years, the Saints entered free agency with a bit of cap room to maneuver," Walder wrote. "They opted for one decent-sized signing in Etienne, but it's not a move I can endorse.

"It remains to be seen whether the Saints will pair Etienne with Kamara, who turns 31 this summer and whose primary skill is in the receiving game, or move on from the veteran. Either way, though Etienne should improve the Saints' running game, I don't love this usage of their capital, especially considering his inconsistent history."

More: Commanders handed interesting grade after $100 million free agent signing

What does Etienne signing mean for Kamara

The biggest thing will be that Travis and Alvin are likely going to share carries now.

Kamara has been "the" guy in New Orleans for so long; now, he gets a running mate.

It isn't known if the Saints want to perhaps entertain the idea of moving on from Kamara, which would be eyebrow-raising, or if the franchise sees the two backs working in tandem in 2026.

But for Etienne's price, you would have to imagine the Saints see him as a focal point of the offense. You don't have that for a player to be second-fiddle.

And what that means for Kamara, at least right now, is unknown.

More NFL news:

• Chiefs big winners of Day 1 free agency
• Ravens big losers of free agency as Pro Bowl stud walks
• Insider drops huge $15 million Chiefs update on Travis Kelce
• Analyst reveals how Falcons avoided $54 million risk with Tua Tagovailoa
• Insider drops incredible $298 million fact on Ravens' 2022 draft class
• Raiders add two free agent stud five minutes apart
• Commanders make questionable $60 million decision as free agency begins