Saints Eye Future, Kamara's Value Peaks
Here’s something you didn’t expect: the New Orleans Saints might send Alvin Kamara—a five-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champ, and still a reliable workhorse—packing this offseason. With longtime quarterback Derek Carr hanging up his cleats, the team is officially teetering toward a full-on rebuild. All eyes are now on Kamara, one of the last big-name holdovers from the Saints’ recent playoff pushes. Teams across the NFL are monitoring this situation closely, but the Kansas City Chiefs could stir the most buzz in the days ahead.
Kamara isn’t the dominating force he once was in his mid-20s, but he remains steady. In the 2024 season, he piled up 950 rushing yards and six touchdowns while stacking 543 yards through the air with a couple more scores. He’s not the flashiest anymore, but for teams with Super Bowl dreams, he’s got the kind of experience and dual-threat skills that can quietly turn games in January.
This isn’t just about stats, though. Kamara signed a two-year, $23.5 million extension with the Saints, and nearly all of it—$22.23 million—has hard guarantees. That’s a big number for a running back nearing 30, but for a team with championship ambitions? Suddenly, it looks like a possible bargain, especially if the market for running backs stays cool in free agency and the draft.
Why the Chiefs Make Sense
The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t desperate, but after back-to-back Super Bowl wins, they’re looking to keep the pressure on the rest of the league. They adore versatility in their backfield, wanting to support Patrick Mahomes with a running back who can run sharp routes and pick up tough yards on the ground. Despite some solid showings from Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City’s offense is always looking to reload—even if the move is a bit splashy or unexpected.
- Alvin Kamara could be the missing piece, giving Mahomes another safety valve and boosting short-yardage situations.
- The Chiefs have wiggle room on their cap and flexibility with draft picks, making a mid-round pick package not just possible, but attractive.
- Kamara has big-game miles and has performed in nearly every playoff situation imaginable.
There’s risk, no doubt. Running backs in their late 20s typically start slowing down, and the Chiefs must weigh Kamara’s contract against their need for youth elsewhere on the roster. But coach Andy Reid is all about maximizing what he’s got—and Kamara fits the mold of plug-and-play veteran the team loves to grab in its championship windows.
Other squads are surely lurking. The Dallas Cowboys always seem one piece away from breaking through. Jacksonville’s offense could use another dimension for Trevor Lawrence. Yet the Saints, in their current mood, would rather stack up draft capital instead of swapping Kamara for another veteran. Rumblings in the league suggest head coach Dennis Allen is eyeing explosive prospects like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty in the upcoming NFL Draft to ignite the next era in New Orleans.
Front offices get antsy around the draft, and any move involving Kamara would instantly shift the landscape in both conferences. If the Saints send their reliable running back north to Kansas City, they’ll be embracing a true youth movement, and the Chiefs? They could be getting the edge to keep them bowling over the AFC’s best for another run.