Saints Land $52M Deal with RB Travis Etienne After Chiefs, Broncos Interest

Etienne chose New Orleans' offer over other suitors, calling his Louisiana homecoming an easy decision.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:06pm

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The New Orleans Saints have signed veteran running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $52 million contract in free agency. Etienne revealed that the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos had also shown interest, but once the Saints entered the picture, the decision became "fairly simple" for the Louisiana native to return home.

Why it matters

The signing of Etienne represents a major shift in the Saints' offense, as they transition away from nearly a decade of building around running back Alvin Kamara. Etienne brings a younger and more explosive option to the backfield, signaling New Orleans' commitment to refreshing their ground game.

The details

Etienne spent his first five NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. In 2025, he rushed for 1,107 yards with 7 touchdowns and added 6 receiving scores, ranking 25th in PFSN's Running Back Impact Metric. The Chiefs and Broncos both explored adding Etienne during free agency, but the Saints were able to secure his services with a lucrative four-year deal.

  • Etienne was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, alongside quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
  • In 2024, Etienne had 558 rushing yards at 3.7 yards per carry with the Jaguars.
  • In 2025, Etienne rushed for 1,107 yards with 7 touchdowns and added 6 receiving scores.

The players

Travis Etienne Jr.

A veteran running back who has spent his first five NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Alvin Kamara

The Saints' running back who has been the focal point of the team's offense for nearly a decade.

Kellen Moore

The new head coach of the New Orleans Saints, who is reshaping the team's backfield as he begins a new offensive era.

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What they’re saying

“Travis Etienne told me the Chiefs and Broncos were two teams showing interest in free agency, but once the Saints entered the picture the decision became fairly simple.”

— Jeff Nowak, NFL reporter (X)

What’s next

The Saints will look to integrate Etienne into their offense and see how he can help revitalize their ground game as they transition away from the Alvin Kamara era.

The takeaway

The Saints' signing of Travis Etienne Jr. to a $52 million deal signals a major shift in their offensive approach, as they move away from the Alvin Kamara-led backfield and bring in a younger, more explosive option to lead their ground game.