The New Orleans Saints have reportedly made a massive move in the running back market by acquiring Travis Etienne, while the Pittsburgh Steelers have added Rico Dowdle to their backfield, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network’s "Good Morning Football."
The Saints reportedly "splashed" to secure Etienne, though the specific nature of the acquisition—whether finalized via a trade or a new contract—has not yet been detailed. Etienne has been a cornerstone of the Jacksonville Jaguars offense, coming off back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards. His arrival in New Orleans provides a high-impact, dynamic threat to an offense looking to bolster its ground game alongside veteran Alvin Kamara. The addition of a player of Etienne's caliber signals a significant shift in the Saints' offensive strategy for the upcoming season.
Simultaneously, the Steelers moved to improve their offensive depth by picking up Rico Dowdle. Dowdle spent the previous season with the Dallas Cowboys, where he emerged as a reliable secondary option, recording 361 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 2023. He is expected to join a Pittsburgh backfield that already features Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, providing the team with a proven veteran presence to help shoulder the load in their physical rushing attack.
Per Rapoport, today proved to be a "big day" for the league's running back market as these two high-profile transactions were finalized. No further details regarding contract lengths or potential trade compensation have been officially released by the teams at this time.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting