NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 05: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints warms up during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Contract negotiations between Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints appear to be heading south quickly, with Josina Anderson reporting the club is open to trading the three-time Pro Bowl selection. Whether the rumor is true or not, these five teams should already be on the phone.
The Saints may just be posturing for the sake of contract negotiations, but actually trading Kamara would be unwise given their dependency on him offensively. While Drew Brees’ offseason highlight tapes suggest he’s improved his arm strength, we’ll believe it when we see it. For now, the Saints will remain a team that employs Kamara in more than just the run game, which is why he wants a contract similar to that which Christian McCaffrey received ($16 million per season) rather than the deal Joe Mixon just signed ($12 million per year). That gap is not small, and the Saints don’t want to be hamstrung financially when Brees does decide to hang up his cleats, or the rebuild will be long and arduous even if they do have Kamara in tow.
So, if the Saints do deem there’s no better option than to get what they can now for Kamara, which teams would be willing to pay up?
Chicago Bears
Is there an NFL roster with a more glaring need at running back?
David Montgomery is expected to miss multiple weeks with a groin injury — and let’s be honest, the jury is still out on the 2019 third-round draft pick — while Tarik Cohen averaged 3.3 yards per carry last season.
Not only would Kamara instantly take over as Chicago’s RB1, but his ability to line up as a slot receiver would also add another wrinkle to Matt Nagy’s offense.
The Bears are a little light on both cap space to pay Kamara right now as well as assets, having already dealt their fourth- and seventh-round picks next year. The front office can undoubtedly find the money though, while the Saints probably wouldn’t balk at Cohen as a piece in the return.