On Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints put a stop to all trade rumors for one of the league’s hottest trade candidates. Signing veteran running back Alvin Kamara to a two-year extension, the Saints made it clear that Kamara isn’t going anywhere at the trade deadline, or in the next two seasons after this one.
New Orleans also made it clear how the team will approach the trade deadline. With the Saints currently 2-5, and the trade deadline scheduled for November 5, many assumed the team would be sellers. They don’t appear to be contenders, and they have several quality veterans that other teams would welcome.
Additionally, offloading those veterans at the trade deadline would help the Saints kick-start a rebuild, giving them draft picks and freeing up cap space. While that approach would definitely make sense, the extension of Kamara makes it seem like this is a path New Orleans won’t be traveling.
Saints are unlikely to be sellers at the trade deadline
If New Orleans had its sights set on a drastic rebuild, giving Alvin Kamara a two-year extension isn’t a move the franchise would make. The move instead aligns with what the Saints have done in recent years: keeping their veterans around for as long as possible.
In addition to Kamara, New Orleans has recently handed out extensions to Tyrann Mathieu, Demario Davis, and Cam Jordan. Additionally, Marshon Lattimore is signed through 2026. Those are the veterans that could be moved if the Saints actually wanted to offload at the trade deadline.
Instead, it seems like the team is choosing the path of loyalty, allowing these franchise pillars to end their careers in New Orleans. With all of the key veterans’ contracts set to expire in the next few years, the Saints seem content with riding with them until the wheels fall off. Whether that’s this offseason or the next, it's unlikely to be at the trade deadline.