Saints Veteran Star Still Drawing Buzz as Trade Chip at NFL Draft

New Orleans could look to move on from Alvin Kamara during the upcoming draft.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with their body broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.The Saints' decision on trading veteran running back Alvin Kamara could have major implications for their ongoing roster rebuild.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Saints are in the midst of a rebuild, and veteran running back Alvin Kamara has been mentioned as a potential trade chip ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. With the Saints signing Travis Etienne in free agency, Kamara has become more expendable, and the team could look to move him in exchange for draft capital to help bolster their future.

Why it matters

The Saints are trying to retool their roster and build for the future, and trading Kamara could free up cap space and provide them with additional draft picks to help accelerate their rebuild. However, Kamara is still a talented player, so the Saints will have to weigh the potential benefits of a trade against the impact it could have on their offense.

The details

Kamara, who will turn 31 in July, is coming off a 2025 season that was cut short by a knee injury. However, he still managed to finish just shy of 1,500 scrimmage yards with 8 touchdowns in 2024. The Saints could look to trade Kamara for as little as a 6th or 7th round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, or potentially a 2027 pick, in order to clear his salary off the books. This would allow the Saints to use the freed-up cap space to re-sign veteran defensive lineman Cameron Jordan, who is currently a free agent.

  • Kamara was floated as a trade chip at the trade deadline last season.
  • The Saints signed Travis Etienne in free agency this offseason.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place in a few weeks.

The players

Alvin Kamara

A veteran running back for the New Orleans Saints who has been mentioned as a potential trade chip ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Travis Etienne

A running back signed by the Saints in free agency this offseason, who is expected to be the team's new lead back going forward.

Cameron Jordan

A veteran defensive lineman for the Saints who is currently a free agent, and could be re-signed if the team trades Kamara.

Tyler Shough

The Saints' starting quarterback going into the 2026 season, after taking over the job following Derek Carr's retirement.

Jack McKessy

A writer for USA Today who suggested the Saints could look to trade Kamara during the upcoming NFL Draft.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Kamara will turn 31 in July, and the Saints seem to have found their new (and younger) lead back in free agency by signing Travis Etienne. Kamara had a rough 2025 season with a knee injury cutting things short, but he finished just shy of 1,500 scrimmage yards in 2024 with eight touchdowns. There are plenty of teams that should be enticed by a veteran running back with the kind of dual-threat abilities Kamara has.”

— Jack McKessy, USA Today Writer

What’s next

The Saints will have to decide in the coming weeks whether to trade Kamara during the 2026 NFL Draft, which could provide them with additional draft capital to help with their ongoing rebuild.

The takeaway

The Saints' decision on Kamara's future will be a key part of their offseason as they look to build a contending team around their new starting quarterback Tyler Shough. Trading Kamara could free up cap space and provide them with draft picks, but they'll have to weigh that against the impact it could have on their offense.