The Saints' depth chart at running back appears to be thin, particularly with a potential suspension looming over the head of Alvin Kamara. Could a veteran be in the mix?
If so, the name Sony Michel could be on the table. The former Patriots draft pick and more recently backup for the champion L.A. Rams remains on the free agent market, and was reportedly set for visits with the Miami Dolphins and Saints.
Listen to the discussion about the running back position this week on SportsTalk with Bobby Hebert, Kristian Garic and Mike Detillier in the player below. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Michel was part of a dynamic duo with Browns running back Nick Chubb at the University of Georgia and was selected No. 31 overall by New England in the 2018 draft. Michel struggled through injuries with the Patriots and was ultimately traded to the Rams for the 2021 season in exchange for 5th- and 6th-round selections. In his career he's logged 743 carries for 3,137 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's also caught 47 passes for 386 yards and two more TDs.
New Orleans didn't address the running back position in the draft, but did add former Baylor standout Abram Smith off the UDFA market. He could be an intriguing option, as could the returning Mark Ingram and another UDFA in Tony Jones Jr., who supplanted veteran Latavius Murray prior to the 2021 season but never really gained much traction.
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Ingram would like be the prime option to replace Kamara should he miss time stemming from an offseason arrest, but there remains a clear need for a inside runner who can take the heavy, short-yardage work and eat up carries on early downs.
What would the Saints be looking at in Michel if they addd him to the roster?
Mike Detillier's take: “Coming out of college, the comp for him was Kamara because he sort of is built like him. He never developed Kamara’s pass-receiving exploits. … He’s a good receiver, he’s just not an elite one.”
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