Audric Estime

Estime remains buried behind Kamara on the depth chart despite late-season work. With potential 2026 draft investment in Jeremiyah Love and other established backups (Devin Neal, Evan Hull), his role could shrink significantly when healthier backs return.

At ~$1M with zero dead cap, Estime is extremely releasable and was signed as emergency depth. No guaranteed money or long-term deal structure suggests the Saints view him as a depth piece rather than part of the long-term solution.

The Saints signed Travis Etienne to a 4-year, $52M deal this offseason, instantly making him the unambiguous RB1 in New Orleans. Estime, who only produced in Weeks 17–18 due to Neal and Miller injuries, has no clear path to carries behind a $13M/yr investment.

New Orleans holds the #8 overall pick on April 23, and Adam Schefter, Daniel Jeremiah, and HC Kellen Moore have all publicly connected the Saints to Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. Drafting Love at #8 would almost certainly end Estime's roster spot before training camp opens.

Estime is in the final year of a ~$1M deal with zero dead cap cost, making him the Saints' most expendable back. Surviving the post-draft cut over Evan Hull is a positive signal, but training camp competition with this crowded room remains a real cut risk.

If Estime wins the feature back role outright in 2025-2026, he has legitimate three-down potential and could see significant volume increase from a currently muddled backfield situation.

Alvin Kamara declined significantly in 2025 after a career-high 950 rushing yards in 2024. If Kamara is released or his role shrinks further, Estime becomes the primary backup to any newly drafted back.

Estime turns 23 in 2026 and is exactly at the age when RBs peak athletically. If released by the Saints — which is increasingly likely — he enters free agency at an ideal dynasty buy age and could land a lead role elsewhere at essentially zero acquisition cost.

The Saints did not draft a single running back in the entire 2026 NFL Draft — removing the threat of incoming rookie competition and signaling organizational comfort with the existing depth chart, including Estime's spot.

A post-June 1 Kamara release or trade (financially incentivized given cap structure and widely speculated) would open the RB2 passing-down role; Estime's W18 15% target share shows he can fill that function alongside Etienne.