Nola.com reports the New Orleans Saints placed issued  restricted free agent  running back Chris Ivory  a second-round tender, according to a source. The second-round tender consists of a one-year, $2.023 million offer.

This means if a team would want Ivory to sign a contract and the Saints wouldn’t match the offer, the Saints would receive a second-round pick from that team. The price tag is likely too high for any team to try to pluck Ivory away.

Ivory tallied 217 rushing yards last season and two touchdowns while only receiving 40 carries in a crowded backfield also containing Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. Ivory has been hampered by numerous injuries during his three seasons in New Orleans, but he was a healthy inactive for much of the first half of the season.

It will be interesting to see how Sean Payton utilizes Ivory this year if another team doesn’t pick him up. Ivory has to skills to be a home-run hitter but is best suited a a bruiser running back. The Saints will need to get back to a balanced offense if they want to reach the Lombardi again.