Sean Payton always finds value at RB

Sean Payton always manages to find value on the free agent market in names most people are long past considering as an option. We saw a perfect example of this a few years ago when the Saints signed Tim Hightower. Hightower had an interesting career he started out in Arizona, Played there for three seasons had a career year in 2010 with over 700 rushing yards and 5 tds only for the Cardinals to parlay that into a 5th round pick and DE Vonnie Holiday. Hightower would begin his stint as the starter before a torn ACL. he was released in final cuts in 2012. Then he vanished from pro football for the entire 2012 and 2013 seasons. He played 1 game for the Fall Experimental League's Florida Blacktips in 2014 then didn't suit up again until he signed a futures deal with the Saints, at 28 years old. He was shuffled on and off the roster several times before a serious injury to fellow RB Khiry Robinson. He would wind up latching on in New Orleans after that amassing 4 starts in 24 games with 229 Carries, 923 yards and 8 tds with 34 rec. for 329 yards and 1 td, adding 3 kick returns for 62 yards and 2 tackles. He served a key depth role in his age 28, and 29 seasons before hanging it up at 30 years old. 

Fast forward 4 years later, when Sean Payton already has Alvin Kamara arguably the second best dual threat back in the league, and Latavius Murray to take the short yardage and change of pace work. Surely the Saints wouldn't invest anymore money in veteran options at the position right? Wrong. The Saints always on the quest to improve their roster, decided to use some of the cap relief from releasing Larry Walford to sign Ty Montgomery. Montgomery is the epitome of versatility, and one of those guys who will play anywhere that gets him the ball. 

Montgomery entered college with a resume that was nearly unrivaled. He simply saw success no matter what sport he competed in. In high school he played wide receiver, running back, quarterback, and return man on the football field while running track and taking first place in the 2011 Championship. As a senior in high school he was more a running back than he was a receiver. That didn't stop Stanford from recruiting him as a receiver primarily. However Montgomery got to college and his role quickly progressed from strictly receiver with the occasional carry, on top of kick return duties that resulted in 24 receptions for 350 yards 2 tds, 2 carries 42 yards and 1 with 27 kick returns for 680 yards and 1 td. Before graduating after a season that saw him tie a career high in receptions (61), rushing attempts (23), while being the primary returner as well resulting in his first experience with punt returns racking up 12 returns for 250 yards and 2 tds to go with 429 yards. Not nearly as impressive as his junior season that saw him amass 74 offensive touches for 1,117 yards and 12 tds, 36 kick returns for 1,091 yards and 2 tds. After 8 years of football that saw him play every offensive and special teams position that gave him the ball the former track athlete was drafted in the third round by the Packers as a WR.

In 2015 when the Packers drafted Montgomery and decided he would focus on wide receiver they had Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jeff Janis, and Jared Abbrederis. However the Packers like to develop receivers over time so the move still had logic. Over his first season the 5'11 220 lb receiver played in just 6 games before landing on IR. He caught 15 passes for 136 yards and 2 tds, 3 carries for 14 yards, and 7 kick returns 218 yards. No real evidence of the change in role to come for Montgomery. In 2016 he was an afterthought for 4 games before starting to see time at RB due to injuries. He finished the season with 77 carries for 457 yards, 44 receptions for 366 yards, 18 kick returns for 366 yards and a total of 3 tds. His career in the NFL was changed forever with teams now seeing him as a RB not a receiver which suits the Jack of all trades well as it gives him chances in the passing game and run game. 

After a couple seasons with a large role in Green Bay he started to lose favor with the coaches and wound up traded to Baltimore where he spent just 1 season. In 2019 he was with the Jets as the backup to LeVeon Bell. Ironically despite having a down year in terms of offensive stats it was the first year he didn't register a fumble, but somehow was able to force a fumble. Heading into 2020 Montgomery latched on with the Saints and Sean Payton. Where there is a very real path to a roster spot and a role on the team due to his versatility. There are really only two receivers and running backs entrenched on the roster with those names being Kamara, Murray, Thomas, and Sanders. Meaning Montgomery could actually compete at WR as the third option while adding depth at RB behind Kamara and Murray, while giving them another option in the return game other than Deontae Harris. It's a win win situation, and I expect him to carve out a role.