Alvin Kamara’s days in New Orleans are numbered. The Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason to be their new lead back. That move alone basically waved goodbye to Kamara’s role. Trading him before the season saves the Saints nearly $14 million in cap space and resets the franchise’s offensive plan around younger players.
Kamara’s agent Brad Cicala has publicly said they plan to play for the Saints in 2026. That’s a negotiating position. Nothing more. Veterans always say they want to stay until they don’t. The Saints are clearly heading in another direction.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Kamara is 31. His 2025 PFF grade was 51.7, dead last among qualified running backs. He played in only 11 games. He finished with 471 rushing yards on 131 carries and just one touchdown on the ground. The 33-catch receiving total was vintage Kamara, but the rushing production cratered.
That’s not the profile of a guy you build a 2026 offense around. The Saints have to look at the cap savings, the dwindling production, and the clear path to a Etienne-led ground game and conclude that Kamara is more useful as a trade asset than as a roster spot.
Where He Lands
The Denver Broncos make sense. They’ve been mentioned in multiple mock trades. Sean Payton coached Kamara in New Orleans and knows him better than any other head coach in the league. Their backfield could use a veteran complement to their young core.
The Steelers are also a fit. They love veteran running backs. Mike Tomlin would happily add a player with Kamara’s pedigree on a one-year proving ground deal. The Jaguars and Seahawks have been floated too. Any team in the bottom half of the league for running back production should be in the conversation.
What the Saints Get
A late-round pick is the realistic return. Kamara’s age and recent production mean teams aren’t going to overpay. The Saints will likely get a 2027 fifth or sixth-round pick at best. The real return is the cap relief. $14 million is enough money to sign two solid free agents at depth positions.
That’s what this trade is really about. Not the return. The cap savings. The Saints have to keep clearing dead money to give themselves a real shot at a competitive 2026.
The End of an Era
Kamara has been a Saints fixture since 2017. He came in as Drew Brees’ explosive young weapon and stayed through the Sean Payton departure, the Jameis Winston experiment, the Derek Carr era, and now the Spencer Rattler reset. He’s been the through-line of New Orleans’ offense for nearly a decade.
Saying goodbye is hard for Saints fans. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler and one of the most beloved offensive players in franchise history. But this is the right move for the team. Kamara should also want a fresh start somewhere with a real chance at making the playoffs one more time.
The Verdict
Kamara is going to be traded before training camp. The Etienne signing made it inevitable. The Saints save cap money and get a late pick. Kamara gets a chance to chase a ring with a contender. The Broncos are the most likely destination. The Saints are officially in rebuild mode and this is the next visible step.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
