Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos knocked Dennis Allen’s New Orleans Saints to 2-5 on Thursday Night Football, and star running back Alvin Kamara may have asked for a trade immediately following the game. Payton, the longtime Saints head coach, reunited with Kamara and Cameron Jordan, with both players showing they still had strong feelings for their former coach. While this was a touching moment for longtime Saints fans, the lipreaders of the internet believe Kamara asked Payton to “come get [him]”, referring to a potential trade.
.@SeanPayton finding his former players on the field postgame 🧡 @A_kamara6 | @camjordan94 pic.twitter.com/GBGDrzoPhP
— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2024
Let’s start with a disclaimer: there’s no audio here, so there’s no way to know with 100% certainty if Alvin Kamara was discussing a potential trade. Additionally, while you can get a shot of Kamara’s exchange with Payton, the view of Kamara’s mouth is partially obstructed, so you can’t make out the entire conversation. However, with those disclaimers out of the way, a trade would make sense. The Saints season is effectively over following a five-game losing streak powered by an absurd amount of injuries, while the 4-3 Denver Broncos seem to be a team on the rise.
“Come Get Me”: Alvin Kamara Wants A Trade, Broncos, Chargers Could Pursue
With a playoff birth almost impossible and set to exceed the 2025 salary cap by an absurd $81.4 million, the Saints should consider an Alvin Kamara trade. While the former third-round pick isn’t as unstoppable as he was in the late 2010’s, he’s still one of the league’s better running backs. Starting in all seven games, the five-time Pro Bowler has recorded 438 rushing yards and six touchdowns behind arguably the league’s worst offensive line while adding 34 receptions for 252 yards and one touchdown in the air. His 145 touches currently lead the league, and he could find more success in a friendlier environment.
Nobody had the Denver Broncos competing for a playoff spot in 2024, but head Sean Payton has the team in the Wild Card race. While the club is 4-3, they’ve done this largely despite first-round pick Bo Nix. While the Oregon product has made some impressive plays with his legs, he struggles to move the ball downfield consistently. This criticism goes back to his college days, as he had one of the lowest average depths of target in the CFB. As a running back, Kamara excels near the line of scrimmage and could provide a valuable set of hands for a young quarterback who’s still a little gun-shy.
Another AFC West Home
The Saints might trade Alvin Kamara, but it might not be to the Denver Broncos. While they have the Sean Payton connection, the Los Angeles Chargers have head coach Jim Harbaugh and his love of the running game. The former 49ers and Michigan head coach has Los Angeles sitting pretty with a 3-2 record thanks in large part to their defense and run game. While former Raven J.K. Dobbins is playing well, this team could use more reinforcements.
Free agent signee Gus Edwards is on the injured reserve and wasn’t playing too well even before his injury. Dobbins is currently taking on an extreme workload, which might not be the best idea for a player with his injury history. Alvin Kamara is at his best when he’s working in a committee, so pairing him with Dobbins via trade could bring out the best in both players.
Main Photo: Matthew Hinton – USA Today Sports
