In the wake of being shorthanded in the backfield, the Saints could soon be making a running back addition. Kareem Hunt is set to meet with New Orleans, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). His colleague Diana Russini tweets that veteran linebacker Anthony Barr will also work out with the team. 
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes that the Hunt visit will take place on Tuesday (Twitter link). That summit could result in a deal for the recently-turned 28-year-old, who has remained one of the top backs on the open market throughout the offseason. New Orleans will be without Alvin Kamara for the first three weeks of the campaign due to suspension, and Eno Benjamin recently suffered an Achilles tear. As a result, a vacancy exists in the team’s backfield.
The Saints already have a veteran presence in the form of Jamaal Williams, along with third-round rookie Kendre Miller as fill-in options for Kamara while he is sidelined and depth when he returns. That would leave Hunt in a rotational role after Week 4 in particular if he were to sign in New Orleans, something he experienced during his time in Cleveland. Hunt saw a career-low 42% snap share last season while serving as Nick Chubb‘s pass-catching backup, and by the end of the season it was clear he would be heading elsewhere in free agency.
Hunt was mentioned in trade talk leading up to the deadline, but the Browns elected to retain him to close out his fourth season in Cleveland. The former Chiefs third-rounder has not received as much attention as the likes of Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott from potential suitors, but he has remained confident a deal will come to fruition. Hunt, like most remaining backs, is likely facing a low-cost deal which will allow him boost his market in a new environment.
Like many Vikings veterans this offseason, Barr saw a lengthy Minnesota tenure come to an end last year. The four-time Pro Bowler spent the 2022 campaign in Dallas, but the Cowboys made it clear in March that he would not be retained. Barr posted 58 tackles and one sack across 14 games last year, numbers which fall short of his production during his peak Vikings seasons.
Barr, 31, would provide experienced depth to a Saints’ linebacking corps which is set to once again be led by Demario Davis. The former only logged a 63% snap share in Dallas last season, by far the lowest of any of his healthy campaigns in the league. Like Hunt, he could be at least a rotational contributor with a veteran-laden team seeking to return to the postseason. Strong seasons from Hunt and Barr, should they join the Saints, could benefit both player and team on low-cost, short-term agreements.
Will Barr change his mind somewhere between agreeing to the contract and actually signing it again?
Hunt would be a nice addition to any RB room. Surprised this is the first workout opportunity he has had since parting ways with Cleveland.
Check the fantasy league emails. Arty said he sent a message. I’ll keep recruiting.
These could both be very good signings for New Orleans. Wear and age will of course be the top concerns for these two veterans, but stylistically, both of them fit the Saints’ respective defensive and offensive systems. Though he rushed the quarterback a lot more in college, Barr started out in a similar zone based scheme in Minnesota. He is older than the player who excelled in zone coverage back then, but he has played a lot in that type of scheme.
As far as Hunt goes, though, his signing would likely push Williams out of a role. Williams was used as a short yardage back in Detroit last year out of necessity. He’s not really a between the tackles bowling ball, and Hunt has traditionally had more power as a runner than Williams. Williams does not really excel in any area that Hunt does not, and I don’t see any place for him in the offense if Hunt is healthy and shows that he hasn’t lost a step. Either Williams would be relegated to third string or Hunt would take too few snaps to be worth signing.
Hunt has lost a step.
Certainly, I agree. But even with that considered, Hunt has been the more effective back.