New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has not been featured in too many trade rumors. Last year, the team heavily invested in the running back position in what appeared to be an effort to ease the burden on Kamara. However, after Jamaal Williams and rookie Kendre Miller underwhelmed, the five-time Pro Bowler once again became the focal point of the offense.
Following a series of contract restructures, Kamara currently carries an $18.5 million cap hit, the largest number in the league and over $4 million more than Christian McCaffrey, the next-closest player. This is a lot for any single running back, but it’s especially burdensome for a cash-strapped team like New Orleans. While the Saints appear content to keep Alvin Kamara, one betting outlet believes the team could trade him during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Odds on veteran players to get traded during the #NFLDraft (@BetOnline_ag).
Brandon Aiyuk +200
Alvin Kamara +300
Courtland Sutton +400
DeAndre Hopkins +500
Tee Higgins +600
A.J. Brown +800— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) April 24, 2024
Vegas Believes An Alvin Kamara Trade Could Happen During 2024 NFL Draft
For those unfamiliar with the betting world, +300 odds means that there is a 25% chance something happens. So, chances are Alvin Kamara will still be a Saint at this point next week, but it’s worth noting that the odds of a trade are relatively high.
While Alvin Kamara is still a good player, it’s easy to see why the Saints want to trade him. As mentioned above, the running back carries a massive cap hit, and New Orleans can save $11.68 million if they don’t officially declare the trade until after June 1st. New Orleans desperately needs this financial freedom, and if they believe Kendre Miller can step up in Year 2, they have no reason to hold on to Kamara.
Additionally, New Orleans could take advantage of a weak running back draft class. With few starting-caliber runners available, the Saints could trade Alvin Kamara to a team that misses out on their preferred prospect. While he probably won’t net a large return, anything is better than nothing, and these five teams are the best potential fits.
Possible Destinations
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh wants to establish the run, but he doesn’t have the players capable of executing his preferred offense. Gus Edwards is an unspectacular starter, while J.K. Dobbins carries serious risk following his Achilles injury. Alvin Kamara can be the workhorse back this team needs, and the Saints have the cap space to trade for him. As a bonus, the former third-round pick would also be the best receiver on the team and a welcome addition for Justin Herbert.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have to do something about their roster at some point, right? After losing Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans, Dallas has done nothing to replace their 2023 starting running back. Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn are not starting-caliber backs, but the Cowboys could get one with an Alvin Kamara trade. Historically speaking, Jerry Jones values the running back position higher than most teams, and Kamara is more than capable of putting up strong numbers behind this offensive line.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals swapped out Joe Mixon for Zack Moss, but they shouldn’t be satisfied with their current backfield. Moss played well last year but has largely been a forgettable presence in the backfield. Seeing as Cincinnati is all-in on 2024, the team should consider an Alvin Kamara trade. After all, this is probably the last year Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase will all be together, so they might as well do everything they can to make 2024 a season to remember.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders lost Josh Jacobs to the Green Bay Packers, and they haven’t done too much to replace him. Zamir White played well in spurts last year but has yet to prove he can handle a high workload, and Alexander Mattison is living proof that small sample efficiency doesn’t always carry over to a starting job. Vegas believes that they can compete in 2024, so they could trade for Alvin Kamara to help support whichever quarterback ends up starting next year.
Kansas City Chiefs
This one is admittedly a long shot, as Kansas City has bigger needs on the roster. However, Alvin Kamara was made to play in Andy Reid’s offense, which is enough to entertain the thought of a trade. Reid is probably the best in the league at creating friendly targets for running backs, and Kamara is still one of the best receiving backs in the game. With Isiah Pacheco and his ferocious running style handling early-down work, these two could form one of the most dangerous backfields in football.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA Today Sports
