Matt Johnson
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been the subject of NFL trade rumors for several months. Now that the two biggest trade dominoes have fallen, the former All-Pro could be next to have his fate decided.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote that if Kamara is going to be traded, the Denver Broncos “would be interested” and willing to acquire him if he’s willing to be moved.
However, there is an issue. Kamara has said repeatedly that if the Saints trade him to another team, he will just retire. The agent for the 30-year-old running back also came out this week and said Kamara intends to play for the Saints next season.
Since being selected with the 67th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Kamara has spent the entirety of his NFL career in New Orleans. He has been through the highs and lows with this franchise, earning five Pro Bowl selections with two second-team All-Pro nods, and he has experienced the club’s five-year playoff drought.
Unfortunately for Kamara, the writing seems to be on the wall in New Orleans. The club signed running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $48 million contract this offseason. The Saints also have Devin Neal, a 2025 sixth-round pick, who is able to serve in a complementary role behind Etienne.
Kamara can still be a relatively effective player. While he averaged only 3.6 yards per carry this past season, a career-worst, he did haul in 33 receptions and racked up 657 scrimmage yards in 11 games. He might no longer be a starting-caliber running back, but he can be effective in a committee role.
If the Saints are shopping him, perhaps Denver would be the one other team he would be willing to play for. Not only can the Broncos offer him the opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl ring in what might be his final NFL season, but he would also get to reunite with head coach Sean Payton. If a deal is made, the Saints are unlikely to get anything better than a swap of Day 3 picks.
