Alvin Kamara’s time in New Orleans may be running out. League sources have indicated that the Saints prefer Travis Etienne and rookie Devin Neal as their 2026 backfield, leaving Kamara as the odd man out and the most likely Saints veteran to be moved this summer.
Kamara is one of the most beloved players in Saints history. He has rushed for over 7,500 career yards, caught over 600 passes, and been a six-time Pro Bowler. He has also been one of the most reliable performers in the New Orleans offense across multiple coaching regimes and quarterback rotations. The franchise is not going to push him out the door without considering the optics.
But the football case for moving him is clear. The Saints brought in Travis Etienne in a trade earlier this offseason and added Devin Neal in the draft. Those two are 26 and 22 respectively, and they fit better with the rebuild timeline that new head coach Kellen Moore is trying to implement. Kamara is 31, has miles on the odometer, and is owed real money on his current contract.
The trade market for running backs is always lukewarm, but Kamara is a name brand who can still produce. Multiple teams looking for a third down back and short yardage specialist could find him useful. The Cowboys, Steelers, and Bills have all been speculative landing spots, though none of those reports have hardened into anything concrete.
The return is not going to be massive. A Day 3 pick is the realistic ceiling, and the Saints may have to eat some salary to facilitate the deal. That is the going rate for veteran running backs entering their 30s, no matter how productive they have been historically.
From a fan perspective, this would mark the end of an era. Kamara has been the face of the Saints offense in the post-Drew Brees years, and trading him would feel like a final acknowledgement that the Sean Payton era is fully in the rearview mirror. New Orleans is rebuilding around younger talent, and the cap and roster math do not leave room for sentimental decisions.
Whether the trade happens in June, July, or right before the regular season starts in August will depend on demand. But the writing is on the wall in the French Quarter, and Kamara’s time as a Saint is almost certainly winding down.
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.
