The New Orleans Saints may be setting themselves up for a run at the NFC South title in Kellen Moore's second season and Tyler Shough's first while heading into the year as the unquestioned No. 1 quarterback, but there is an equally real future in which 2025's hot finish proves to be a mirage and this team regresses.
Should that come to fruition, players like Alvin Kamara could be on the first flight out of town if a team comes calling with NFL Draft picks. In addition to Kamara, one NFL insider believes that one of New Orleans' young quarterbacks could be a valuable enough trade chip.
ESPN's Dan Graziano listed both Kamara and quarterback Spencer Rattler as two players who could dominate the discussion at the 2026 NFL trade deadline and possibly get moved as a result. If Kellen Moore fails to hit his stride in Year 2, both of these players could be sent away for some extra NFL Draft capital down the line.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara, QB Spencer Rattler named trade deadline targets
Kamara has lost a step, and the Saints paid a boatload of money to bring Travis Etienne back to Louisiana this offseason and insert him as the top dog in the backfield. However, Kamara is still worth taking a chance on despite the fact he has warned potential new destinations by saying he wants to play in New Orleans.
Graziano lists the Cincinnati Bengals, who are banking on another solid season from Chase Brown, and Green Bay Packers, who needed a backup running back before the legal situation surrounding Josh Jacobs came to light, as tams who could be interested in Kamara.
Rattler has shown that he is not a long-term starter, but he is a notch or two above many of the other backup quarterbacks across the NFL. While trading him would be unwise given Shough's unproven nature and all-time NFL Draft bust Zach Wilson standing out as the No. 2 quarterback on the roster, some team might get desperate and overpay.
If things go belly-up for the Saints in Year 2 of the Moore regime, they could start to rebuild with picks accrued from sending a franchise legend in Kamara and a solid backup with a plus arm in Rattler away to teams that could get more use out of them. It wouldn't be an ideal situation, but Mickey Loomis needs to keep his eyes peeled.
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