Andrew Buller-Russ
The 2026 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and there’s been a lot of attention on what direction the New Orleans Saints may be leaning in with the eighth overall pick in the first round. Yet, with a total of eight selections across the three-day event, the Saints will likely find immediate contributors later on too, especially considering they have two other picks in the top 73 selections.
However, the Saints could also use the draft as an opportunity to shop one of their most recognizable players, depending on how the draft board falls for both them and other teams.
According to Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, the outcome of this weekend’s draft could “impact” the future of Alvin Kamara and Cameron Jordan’s status with the team.
“I think that it could impact it,” Loomis said. “You know, we’ll see what happens, and that goes both ways, it could impact them, from their perspective as well as ours.”
Jordan is already a free agent. Meanwhile, the Saints signed running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $48 million contract this offseason, and Kamara is entering the final year of his contract. It’s certainly possible that another team will be willing to part with a Day 3 draft selection in exchange for Kamara. The five-time Pro Bowl back is now 30 years old and is coming off his first season without at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
For a Saints team that appears to have already moved on at the RB position, parting with Kamara for any type of draft compensation would be a win. Plus, they’d be doing one of their franchise icons a favor by giving him a better opportunity elsewhere. Of course, they could do him an even bigger favor by releasing him altogether, giving Kamara a chance to pick his own team rather than be traded there.
Related: Final 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Round 1 With Trades
