The New Orleans Saints have made plenty of headlines this offseason. Hiring new head coach Kellen Moore and drafting a potential franchise QB are the most obvious ones that jump out. But while the spotlight has shone brightly on the team’s high-profile moves, one of their most intriguing additions has quietly flown under the radar. Meet Marcus Yarns, the undrafted running back out of Delaware who may just be the Saints’ best-kept secret.
It is important to acknowledge that the Saints’ running back room is crowded. Alvin Kamara can still perform and veterans like Cam Akers among others will provide solid depth. Breaking through among this position group will be very challenging. But Yarns offers incredible promise after a deep review. Pro Football Focus (PFF) was one of the few outlets to highlight Yarns as a potential steal, and a closer look at his college production shows why. Yarns’ efficiency and playmaking ability stack up impressively against some of the top running backs drafted in 2025.
To effectively evaluate Marcus Yarns, he was compared against three notable 2025 draft picks: Cam Skattebo, Jaydon Blue, and Jarquez Hunter. All three were selected outside the first round but were considered strong value picks for their respective teams.
First Comparison: Yards After Contact Per Attempt
This stat is one of my favorites to evaluate rookie RBs because it reflects a running back’s ability to create extra yards regardless of blocking. Here Yarns outperformed Skattebo, Blue, and even Hunter, who was known as a powerful runner at Auburn.
Second Comparison: Breakaway Percentage
In today’s NFL, explosive plays are at a premium. Yarns’ breakaway run percentage was better than both Skattebo and Blue, and just a hair behind Hunter. Yarns stood out here specifically compared to Blue, who was lauded as a home run threat during his time at Texas.
Third Comparison: 10+ Yard Run Percentage
Because this stat is percentage based so it is a good indicator of efficiency. It also servers as a good middle ground between yards after contact per attempt and generating breakaway runs. On a per-carry basis, he produced more 10+ yard runs than Skattebo and Blue, trailing only Hunter again.
Skeptics might wonder if Yarns’ production was a flash in the pan. The numbers say otherwise. Yarns broke out in 2023, posting strong numbers and earning over 90 grades in key categories, according to PFF. Most importantly, Yarns showed an ability to correct major issues and develop. After struggling with fumbles in 2023, he cleaned up his ball security in 2024, finishing with zero fumbles while maintaining a high yards per carry average. In fact, he had three staring seasons averaging over 6.5 yards per carry.
The Saints’ backfield is deep, but history shows that undrafted and late-round running backs can quickly rise through the ranks. Just ask Isaiah Pacheco, a seventh-round pick who became a Super Bowl starter for the Chiefs. The Chiefs had a more hyped running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who ended up losing his position on the depth chart to the younger unheralded runner. (In an interesting twist of fate Clyde Edwards-Helaire now plays for the Saints). Yarns’ combination of vision, contact balance, and proven production makes him a legitimate candidate to earn snaps, especially if injuries strike or if the Saints want to keep their veterans fresh.
One of the Saints’ biggest issues in recent seasons has been a lack of quality depth behind their stars. When injuries hit, the drop-off was steep. Yarns may not be a day-one starter, but he’s the kind of player who can stabilize the bottom half of the roster and provide meaningful snaps on special teams or in relief. These are the “glue guys” every contending team needs.
Training camp and preseason will be Yarns’ proving ground. He’ll have to battle for every rep, but the data suggests he’s more than just a camp body. If he can consistently show the same efficiency and playmaking ability he demonstrated at Delaware, don’t be surprised if he makes the 53-man roster. At the very least, Yarns should land on the practice squad with a real shot to contribute later in the season.
The Saints have had their share of undrafted success stories, and Marcus Yarns could be the next name on that list. His production, growth, and advanced metrics all point to a player who belongs in the NFL. For a team looking to build a deep, resilient roster, Yarns is exactly the kind of under-the-radar addition that could pay big dividends down the road.
isclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
