With Kendre Miller in the fold, will 3 be a crowd in Saints' backfield?

Running back was an obvious, screaming need for the Saints heading into this offseason. Less than two months ago, we ranked it third among all positions that had to be addressed.

Then they signed Jamaal Williams in free agency. Then they drafted TCU’s Kendre Miller in Round 3 of last week's draft. And we celebrated both as two of the best value moves of New Orleans’ entire offseason — especially the draft choice, considering Kamara and Williams will both be 28 years old by the start of the season.

Suddenly, however, New Orleans has created one of those classic “good problems to have.” Is there actually room for three standout running backs in the same backfield? Or is this a repeat of 2017, when the Saints added veteran Adrian Peterson and rookie Alvin Kamara alongside starter Mark Ingram, then wound up trading Peterson four weeks into the season?

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I also couldn’t help but think of the Saints drafting Ingram in Round 1 in 2011, followed immediately by Reggie Bush tweeting, “It’s been fun New Orleans.”

The question led off our latest podcast. And Miller himself opened the door to it when he told WWL Radio, “I don’t sit too well at backup. Even though I respect Kamara and everything he got for the Saints and everything he did … yeah, I’m coming for that No. 1.”

The answer is that the Saints should definitely be able to make room for all three backs — in 2023, anyway. Kamara is likely to miss time via suspension at some point (anywhere from three to six games possibly?), and injuries are inevitable at the position.

We’d be naive to think New Orleans wouldn’t consider a possible trade for Kamara, even though he has become one of the most valued leaders and captains both on and off the field for this team. However, selling him now for a 2024 draft pick would feel like getting the absolute minimum value out of him. And he is only due to make $1.08 million this year after restructuring the rest of his salary into a signing bonus earlier this year.

The possibility of trading Kamara could become a much hotter topic next offseason, when Kamara is due to make $11.8 million in salary and bonuses (followed by a whopping $25 million in 2025 that basically means he’s a free agent that year unless they rework the deal).

In the meantime, though, a three-back rotation should actually be a good thing for Kamara.

Kamara’s usage skyrocketed in 2021 and 2022, especially as a runner. But his efficiency took a big hit. Some of that is obviously due to the Saints’ injuries across the offensive line and offensive struggles as a whole. Some is due to the lack of creativity in Pete Carmichael Jr.’s offense. Some is due to the extra pounding Kamara was taking and the natural decline in running backs in Years 5 and 6.

Nick has written a lot about Kamara’s usage and effectiveness in recent months, including his disappearance from the passing attack on third downs.

That feels like the obvious answer to me. Although Williams and Miller don’t want to be pigeonholed as short-yardage or “first- and second-down backs,” they are obviously capable of doing the heavy lifting in those roles. And that should free up the Saints to get way more creative in their usage of Kamara in the passing game, especially since they don’t have an obvious slot receiver on the roster right now.

Kamara famously caught 81, 81, 81 and 83 passes in his first four seasons before those numbers dipped to 47 and 57 over the past two years.

The Saints’ overall usage of running backs and fullbacks in the passing game has been even more startling.

Since Sean Payton, Drew Brees and Carmichael arrived in 2006, the Saints had six seasons where their backs caught more than 140 passes and 11 seasons where their backs caught more than 120 — with a a high of 171 in 2013.

Meanwhile, they’ve hit their two lowest totals over the last two years despite the expansion to 17 games, with just 85 in 2022. That total should be closer to double with new quarterback Derek Carr and so many capable backs around him.

"Oh yeah, @KyleBrandt is gonna get to know him a little bit." 😤@MoveTheSticks breaks down "angry runner" Kendre Miller going to the @Saints pic.twitter.com/JcKr28RJr2— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 29, 2023

Looking back at the Saints’ history, there are also multiple examples of three running backs all being fed at the same table.

There were four years where three backs touched the ball at at least 117 times. Think Deuce McAllister/Reggie Bush/Pierre Thomas or Thomas/Darren Sproles/Ingram as prime examples.

And that 2017 season was the most prolific example of two backs feeding off each other in NFL history, with Kamara and Ingram each totaling more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage. Ingram had 230 carries and 58 catches. Kamara had 120 and 81.

“Look, as much as anything, it’s just trying to take a little bit of that load off of Alvin,” coach Dennis Allen said after the Saints drafted Miller. “You know, him having to be a bellcow back for us really for the last couple years, I think in our league now, (it’s better) if you can spread those touches around, kind of spread those carries around, keep everyone healthy. Being a runner in this league for 17 games is a lot of pounding. So if you can spread those carries out a little bit, I think it keeps everybody fresh throughout the season a little bit more.”

Miller, who turns 21 this summer, may show the most explosiveness of the three backs at times this season and could demand an increasing role with each passing month. But he will still need seasoning when it comes to pass protection, running routes and expanding his knowledge of a new playbook.

Watching Kendre Miller video. I've audibly exclaimed a few times. Man... This is an exciting player.— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 3, 2023

Eventually, three may become a crowd in New Orleans. But for now, the Saints should take that luxury and run with it.