Bradley Locker at PFF made an article describing 15 trade targets this offseason. One of the players mentioned was New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara. This trade makes sense on paper, but has virtually no chance of happening. Kamara may not be the player he once was, but he is still valuable to the team on and off the field.
There’s no question Kamara isn't as explosive as he was a few years ago. Locker notes this in his article and brings up some statistics that back up the claim.
“Once one of the foremost running backs in the NFL, Kamara’s production has dipped over the last few years. Most notably, the five-time Pro Bowler registered a career-low 51.7 overall PFF grade with a 61.0 PFF rushing grade last year, losing three fumbles and gaining only 10 runs of 10-plus yards. His yards per route run also dropped almost a full yard from 1.75 to 0.78.”
Alvin Kamara is still important to the Saints despite his limited production
These stats are all true, but don’t tell the full story. Kamara is still an impactful player when healthy. He had a career high in rushing yards in 2024 and had over 600 scrimmage yards last year despite getting injured. The days of Kamara shouldering the load may be over, but he can still be a complementary back who can impact the game when given carries.
Another reason the Saints won’t trade Kamara is because of his leadership. The team captain is invaluable in the locker room and will help aid the younger running backs. The Saints should lean on his leadership to develop another back, whether it’s Devin Neal or someone in the draft.
Finally, Kamara doesn’t want to be anywhere but New Orleans. This was evident when rumors were swirling around at the trade deadline about his departure. Kamara wants to be a Saint for life and there’s no reason the front office won’t grant him that wish.
The idea of Alvin Kamara getting traded seems smart, but is highly unlikely to happen. He means too much to the team, on and off the field for him to be shipped off.