What happens between Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints is anyone's guess. The situation has been unclear since the signing of Travis Etienne. Kellen Moore has said a little on the matter, but they say actions speak louder than words. He could tell Saints fans exactly what he's thinking by what happens in the NFL Draft
While some have tried to make it an obvious outcome that he'll leave, Kamara's 2026 future could go either way. If you ask me, neither party quite knows where they stand. Moore said he views Kamara as part of the team. That's true, for now, but things can always change.
We don't know what Kamara's side of things is. We haven't heard from him since the signing, but he certainly seems to play football in 2026. Like Demario Davis said, Kamara is returning to the NFL. We just don't know where yet. We could know if the answer is New Orleans sooner rather than later.
Alvin Kamara's fate can be sealed in the NFL Draft
If the New Orleans Saints draft a running back this year, that's a tell tale sign that Kamara is on his way out. There could be an exception made for picking a running back with their last pick, but even that would be a tad strange.
Even if you get past Etienne and Kamara vying for the most touches, Kendre Miller, Devin Neal and Aurdric Estime are all behind the top two. The room doesn't necessarily need more depth, so a sixth round pick doesn't make much sense.
New Orleans picking a running back like Mike Washington would be an indication of how much Moore values running the football. It would also say the Saints have found their complement to Etienne. Right now, that's Kamara. If the Saints invest highly in another running back, it pushes Kamara out of the room.
Passing on a running back doesn't guarantee anything, but picking one says it all. If the Saints choose to not pick the position in the draft, they still have to figure out the balance between Kamara and Etienne. Moore has said he wants both, and he's likely telling the truth. That puts the ball in Kamara's court.
The unfortunate part of it all is the Saints could draft a running back due to the uncertainty. If they don't know for sure what Kamara wants to do but they know running is a priority, they may feel backed into a corner. Moving like he's going to be around would leave them blindsided by a trade request or retirement. The Saints will have gauge which way they believe Kamara is leaning, and evaluate if the running backs behind him are good succession plans.