The Saints agreed to terms with Travis Etienne earlier today, putting Alvin Kamara‘s New Orleans future in jeopardy. Teams around the league are now wondering if Kamara could be traded.
Not interested in leaving New Orleans last year, Kamara may reasonably change his stance after the Etienne news. Teams are looking into this situation and wondering if a trade could happen, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
One season remains on Kamara’s $24.5MM extension. Kamara is due $3MM guaranteed for 2026. Our Rory Parks examined this situation recently, indicating the team’s most recent Kamara restructure was separate from a standard base-to-bonus adjustment and is something to keep an eye on regarding a potential separation. The Etienne news certainly points to Kamara’s Saints stay wrapping after nine seasons.
Kamara is heading into an age-31 season and is far removed from his Pro Bowl years. Teams showed interest in the former Sean Payton chess piece at the deadline, but the veteran running back said he would retire rather than be traded. Kamara then suffered an MCL sprain that shut him down for the season’s final six games.
It does not seem like Kamara would have too much trade value anymore, but teams would certainly be interested if the Saints cut him. A release would cost New Orleans more than $10MM in 2026 dead money. Such moves are not uncommon in New Orleans, the NFL’s epicenter for cap gymnastics. But this will be a situation to follow now that the Saints have added a true starter-caliber back for the first time since Mark Ingram’s initial departure.