Did New Orleans do it again?
The strength of the 2025 NFL Draft class was the talent at running back. It had top talent with Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton, selections throughout day 2, and late-round gems like Devin Neal. Every team in the NFL could have selected a running back prospect this year, but some still went undrafted, and the Saints got the best one available, Marcus Yarns.
At Delaware, Yarns was a three-year starter, contributing heavily to rushing and receiving games. In 2022, Yarns had a decent year with 481 rushing yards, 199 receiving yards, and 5 total touchdowns. Yarns was not the full-time starter just yet, but when he got that role in 2023, he broke onto the scene. He ended the season with 940 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, 311 receiving yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns. In the 2024 season, Yarns’ yards dropped a bit, but the most significant drop was in his rushing touchdowns, which were 6.
William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Now that the stats are covered, let us look at how Marcus Yarns got them. The strength of his game is speed. Yarns ran a 4.45 40-yard dash, and it shows on the field. He has a burst of speed that gets right past defenders, but he is also very elusive. Yarns has a juke move that will absolutely stun defenders. Being undersized at 193lbs, Yarns will not be a bruiser or running back that will have a heavy workload, but he has an ability to break out of tackles that a person his size should not have. Could that have been because of the competition Yarns was facing? Maybe, but seeing that ability is still a positive. In the receiving game, Yarns has flexibility to be a real threat. He is a type of player that offensive coordinators will love because of all the things they can do with him in the offense. Yarns is great in the screen game and any play that says, “Yarns, just go out run him”. If a linebacker has to cover him, it is over for that defender. In pass blocking, Yarns also tries very hard to hold up, but he still will need to improve in that area.
The chances of an undrafted free agent making a roster is always extremely low, especially if a team invested in that position in the draft. This is the situation with Marcus Yarns and the New Orleans Saints. Before the draft, New Orleans had a running back room of Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Jordan Mims. In the draft, the Saints selected Devin Neal late. This makes the running back room filled with five players already before signing Marcus Yarns. This is a similar situation to what happened with CB Rico Payton last season, but he ended up making the final 53-man roster, and I think Yarns can do the same. Alvin Kamara is obviously going to make the roster, but every other spot is up for grabs. Kendre Miller is a part of the last regime, has an extensive injury history, and struggles in pass blocking, so he may lose his spot. Although I like what Clyde Edwards-Helaire brought to the roster, I do not think it will be enough for him to make the team but could see him on the practice squad. This also stands true for Jordan Mims. The Saints’ 6th round selection Devin Neal is expected to make the team, so there is another spot taken, and I truly believe Marcus Yarns can take that last spot, and here is why.
Flexibility in the running back room is always a good thing. Alvin Kamara is elusive, patient, a threat in the receiving game, has some of the greatest contact balance ever, and is a mean blocker. Devin Neal is a running back that can take the majority of the workload, pick up short yardage, and still has the ability to make big plays. Marcus Yarns has true speed and acceleration, is elusive, and can be utilized throughout the receiving game. Each one of these players brings something different to the offense and each compliment the other’s game. Yarns may struggle to get on the field as a running back this season, but special teams are where he can get on the field early.
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