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According to a Tuesday evening report from longtime NFL reporter Josina Anderson, the New Orleans Saints are at least “open” to trading superstar running back Alvin Kamara. While Kamara is currently seeking a new contract from the Saints with his original rookie contract slated to come to an end at the conclusion of the upcoming 2020-21 campaign, the prolific offensive weapon isn't even really holding out as it seems.
Nonetheless, that doesn't make it any less fun to play the guessing game as there would be a slew of teams lined up for Kamara's services if the Saints were to trade him this offseason. Because quite literally every team in the NFL could use a player like Kamara, the Saints would surely take on an impressive haul in exchange for the team's starting running back.
Things could get interesting in a hurry down in New Orleans as the 2020-21 regular season kicks off in just a few weeks.
Los Angeles Rams
In a surprising turn of events, the Los Angeles Rams previously released current Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley early on in the offseason. As a result, the Rams then selected former Florida State running back Cam Akers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the soon-to-be first-year rusher presently remains in line for quite the heavy workload as rookie in 2020-21.
In addition to Akers, the Rams also employ the tandem of Darrell Henderson Jr. and Malcolm Brown at the running back position as a committee-based approach seems most likely for Los Angeles this time around. However, if the Rams were able to add a player like New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, it would allow the team to take a bit of the pressure off the aforementioned Akers, who can then ease his way into the NFL.
New England Patriots
If there is a trade to be made, one can usually bet that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is at least listening from afar. This case would be no different as the new-look Patriots could no doubt use a talent like New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara in the backfield.
Because Belichick and company have a litany of running backs at the moment, perhaps sending a player like James White, Sony Michel, Damien Harris or Rex Burkhead back to New Orleans could help such a deal progress in the right direction. Not only that, but even if Kamara doesn't eventually re-sign with the Patriots, this depth would allow the heralded AFC East franchise to move forward relatively unscathed. Taking a chance here could seriously help former Carolina Panthers quarterback and New England newcomer Cam Newton in 2020-21.
Chicago Bears
It wasn't too long ago that the Chicago Bears were considered to be legitimate contenders in both the NFC North division and NFC as a whole. However, the regression of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has since hindered the once heralded franchise in a major way, as the Bears notably missed out on the postseason in 2019-20. Not to mention that Chicago still has to match up against the likes of the arch rival Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
There are few better things to give a struggling quarterback than a prolific running back that can truly do it all like Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints. The Bears and head coach Matt Nagy are no strangers to utilizing the services of versatile players out of the backfield, either. They've done pretty well with players like Tarik Cohen and Cordarrelle Patterson in recent years.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger isn't getting any younger and was hampered by some significant injury troubles throughout the course of the 2019-20 campaign. Although “Big Ben” seems to be back to full health ahead of the upcoming season, the addition of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara would do wonders for both Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense as a whole.
With wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner currently flanking Roethlisberger, the Steelers are going to need the team's defense to step up in a big way as the offense has a real possibility of being a bit stagnant with its current personnel.
The Steelers offense isn't currently categorized as dynamic by any means. However, the addition of Kamara would immediately change that. After missing out on the postseason last year, the Steelers and longtime head coach Mike Tomlin will definitely be looking to turn things around in a big way this time around while a major trade acquisition ahead of Week 1 of the 2020-21 regular season could be the jolt that this team desperately needs.
San Francisco 49ers
The running back position has become a unique one for the San Francisco 49ers over the course of the last several seasons. Despite the revolving door approach the team has been forced to install out in San Francisco, the 49ers notably won the NFC and reached the Super Bowl before unfortunately coming up short against the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs in 2019-20.
Even though the 49ers will enter the upcoming campaign as the reigning NFC Champions, more than a few teams have improved greatly this offseason. In turn, San Francisco will definitely need to bring their “A game” once again in 2020-21.
With general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan always staying vigilant when it comes to adding talent to their roster, perhaps New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara can become the piece that sets this franchise over the top this time around.
Even if Kamara is acquired by San Francisco as a rental player before he becomes a free agent, it will be worth it in the end if the once heralded franchise came away with a Super Bowl title.
As it stands today, the 49ers have the quartet of Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson Jr. at the running back position, even after sending another rusher in Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins this offseason. If the 49ers are going to land Kamara, at least one of the four in the aforementioned group would have to head to New Orleans in return — which would only start the conversation for San Francisco, of course.
Honorable Mention: Jacksonville Jaguars
With the Jacksonville Jaguars recently electing to part ways with veteran running back Leonard Fournette, there is no doubt that the lowly AFC South franchise could use some help in the offensive backfield moving forward. While it currently appears as though the Jaguars are doing everything in their power to win as few games as possible in 2020-21 en route to securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, trading for New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara would more than likely require parting ways with some serious NFL Draft capital.
Obviously, shedding future NFL Draft picks does not coincide well with the Jaguars' current strategy, though adding a player like Kamara would surely push things in the right direction in terms of a rebuild on the field. If Jacksonville was ultimately able to sign him to a long-term contract, that is.
The soon-to-be free agent's status as such also severely hinders the chances that the Jaguars would pull the trigger on a deal for Kamara. Although this shouldn't be out of the question completely, it is not likely that Kamara is traded to the Jaguars despite the team's desperate need for a legitimate starting running back.
