The New Orleans Saints missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year during the 2015 season, and general manager Mickey Loomis is looking to make some major changes to their roster after posting a 7-9 record.
The Saints have already restructured linebacker Dannell Ellerbe's contract this offseason and are looking to find ways to make more room in their salary cap. Franchise quarterback Drew Brees was guaranteed $10.85 million of his $20 million salary this past week and will account for an absurd $30 million cap hit in 2016, according to NFL reporter Dan Hanzus.
With the Saints front office looking to make moves to clear room in their salary cap, the running back position could see a major overhaul in 2016. Saints running back Mark Ingram may be the only back who will surely return in next season, but he found himself on injured reserve with a shoulder injury at the end of the 2015 season.
The Saints could possibly be "parting ways" with running backs C.J. Spiller, Tim Hightower or Khiry Robinson this offseason, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett. Hightower becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason, while Robinson is a restricted free agent, and New Orleans' front office is unlikely to give any running back a big contract this offseason.
Hightower proved to be a viable option in the Saints' backfield down the stretch of this season, recording 375 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Saints may look to bring him back based on his production this year, but it will have to be at the right price. While the Saints may look to work out a deal with Hightower, it seems unlikely for Robinson to return, as they will need to "make a one-year qualifying offer around $1.5 million with no draft-pick compensation or closer to $2.5 million with second-round compensation," according to Triplett.
Hightower and Robinson's futures in New Orleans are clearly uncertain at the this time, but Spiller will likely have another chance to prove himself after a disappointing season. The former first round draft pick struggled to produce in his first season, with the Saints rushing for 112 yards on just 36 carries.
Spiller is under contract through the 2018 season, and the Saints' salary cap would actually take a bigger hit ($5.3 million) should they decide to cut him before June 1, according to Triplett. For that reason, Spiller will likely be given another opportunity to prove himself in New Orleans this summer. It's unknown exactly what the Saints' front office's plans are for their backfield in 2016, but Ingram is likely the only back in New Orleans that is almost guaranteed to return next season. Running back Marcus Murphy is also under contract with the Saints through the 2018 season, but he only recorded one carry during his 2015 rookie season.
Murphy proved to be a viable punt returner for the Saints in 2015 and finished the season as the NFL's 11th best punt returner, averaging 9.3 yards per return. Murphy will likely also return with the Saints for the 2016 season, but it's unknown if the Saints' coaching staff will trust him to carry the ball out of the backfield.
