The New Orleans Saints are looking to bolster their roster even further as Training Camp starts to heat up.
Running back Kareem Hunt, who had a workout earlier today with the Saints, has left New Orleans without a contract and is headed to Indianapolis for a visit with the Colts.
It appears Anthony Barr also is leaving New Orleans without signing a deal.
Hunt, the former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns star, was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 after a standout season in which he rushed for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. The Toledo product also had 455 yards receiving with three touchdowns.
Since that rookie campaign, his numbers have regressed, with his highest rushing total being 841 yards in 2020. He joined Cleveland in 2019 after being released by the Chiefs for an off-the-field issue and has had to share the workload with Nick Chubb, which could be a key indicator of his slip in production.
Another key reason for signing Hunt could be Alvin Kamara’s three-game suspension to begin the season. Kamara was suspended Friday for his actions in a Las Vegas brawl the night before the 2022 Pro Bowl. So with Kamara not being available, New Orleans could look at Hunt as an easy replacement during that time.
Barr is a 31-year-old linebacker that spent the first eight years of his career with Minnesota and 2022 in Dallas. He was the ninth overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft out of UCLA and has been a four-time Pro Bowler in his nine seasons. He has 553 career tackles, 18.5 sacks, and five interceptions on his resume, including a career-high 79 tackles in 2019.
Barr missed almost all of 2020 with an injury, but has since bounced back with 72 and 58 tackle seasons respectively.