The New Orleans Saints recently added another running back, this time with former Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler. One of seven halfbacks on the roster, he'll have to fight for a roster spot this Summer.
Luckily for him, his bread and butter is on special teams, something that might put him above the rest in the room. In his four years in Minnesota, that was obviously the case as well, as his career stats are lopsided towards the return game. Chandler averaged 25.3 yards over 15 kickoff returns and 386 total punt return yards as a Viking, much more productive than the 710 total rushing yards across four years.
A kick/punt returner is also a role that Rashid Shaheed had that the Saints haven't quite been able to find a replacement for yet. The search could end with Chandler; however, only time will tell what exactly the Saints want to do with him. He might turn out to be the team's RB3, which would surprise some experts, because you just never quite know what could happen in the NFL.
With March not over with yet, the Saints already have a crowded running back room
It's just two weeks into free agency, and the NFL draft is still a month away, but the Saints have managed to overcrowd their running back room. That's something that could've been said before the singing of Ty Chandler, so if it wasn't the case before, it sure is now.
There's no way that the Saints will carry all seven guys onto their final 53-man roster this September. One of, or more likely multiple of, the players will have to be the odd man out. That puts some late-season standouts, like Audric Estime, at risk of not being on the roster when week one rolls around. Devin Neal, who was just selected in the draft last year, could also very well find himself on the outside looking in next season.
The crowded room also opens the door for a possible Kendre Miller departure. A former third-round pick of the team, he has struggled to stay healthy. However, when he's been on the field, he's been nothing but productive. Even so, the Saints might feel like it's time to move on.
Alvin Kamara is a retirement option, and even then, the room is crowded. The Saints will have to figure out how or who they want to hedge that position quickly, because right now it's just overgrown.