Saints make one waiver claim to bring in former Vikings RB, All Pro returner

The New Orleans Saints weren't as busy as expected during the first round of waiver claims after cutdown day, but they did add another intriguing name to the running back room.

The Saints claimed RB and All Pro return man Kene Nwangwu, who was cut by the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. The 6-1, 210-pound Nwangwu has been among the most prolific returners in the league since he was drafted in the 4th round out of Iowa State in 2021.

The move has not yet been officially announced by the team.

Nwangwu has three career return touchdowns and averaged more than 26 yards per return in 2022 when he was named 2nd team All Pro. That means the Saints now have two All Pro return men, with Rashid Shaheed earning that honor in 2023.

It's unlikely Nwangwu, 26, is being added to impact the traditional run game, with just 88 career rushing yards on 27 attempts. But he will offer some interesting options in the new kickoff format, which calls for two returners. Special teams coach Darren Rizzi had previously noted that teams with multiple elite returners would have a distinct advantage, because otherwise teams would scheme their kicks toward the less threatening option.

“Whoever is back there with Shaheed, I’m sure there’s going to be some teams in the beginning of the year that try to play keep away from Shaheed, try to figure out where he’s lined up and all that," Rizzi told WWL. "The opportunity for the second guy could be a huge one, and so I think it’s going to be really important to have a number of guys on the roster that can fill that role.”

The Saints will have to make at least one corresponding move, which could be a cut or transitioning a player to IR, to make space on the 53-man roster. No Saints players were claimed on waivers, freeing up the option to add any of those young players to the practice squad. The Saints were already busy making those moves Wednesday morning.