NFL Rumors: Insider reveals Saints' desired trade package for Alvin Kamara
The saints" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">New Orleans Saints might become sellers at the upcoming trade deadline, sitting near the bottom of the NFC South division. One such player that could be moved is star running back Alvin Kamara. According to a number of NFL insiders, the Saints want a return that's "at least" equal to what the Carolina Panthers received for running back Christian McCaffrey.
The San Francisco 49ers gave the Panthers a second-, third- and fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft and a fifth-round pick in 2024 for McCaffrey. Kamara's base salary of $1 million for the 2022 -2023 season makes him very tradeable.
Alvin Kamara update: #Saints GM Mickey Loomis would want a trade package similar to the one that the #49ers gave up in the Christian McCaffrey trade, sources tell @RapSheet
That trade was for a 2nd, a 3rd, a 4th and a 5th.
nfl.com/news/2022-nfl-… https://t.co/bxfDn7u5Ep
Any team that lands Kamara would just have to pay the balance of his base salary for this season and on a series of one-year deals through the 2025 season. In the 2023 season, Kamara's base salary will be $9.4 million and $10.2 million in 2024 campaign. It then inflates to $22.4 million in 2025 season.
It seems that not many NFL teams have any plans on giving any running back in excess of $22 million in a season. Last season, Kamara played in 13 games, missing four games due to a rib injury. He rushed for 898 yards and four touchdowns in the 2021 season. The former Tennessee Volunteers star also recorded 47 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns that season.
So far this season, Kamara has 77 carries and 351 yards. He also has 24 receptions for 191 yards. The question remains as to why New Orleans would want to trade their five-time Pro Bowl running back.
Why the Saints would want to move Alvin Kamara before the trade deadline
The main reason that general manager Mickey Loomis would want to move Kamara is because of the team's salary cap. According to Spotrac, New Orleans is currently 27th in the NFL in cap space with just $1.9 million. Next season, they'll have a projected cap space of $-63.4 million, the worst in the league.
Kamara was drafted by New Orleans in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He's third in franchise history in rushing yards and in rushing touchdowns. We will see if the Saints will keep the 27-year-old on their roster for the remainder of the season.