Alvin Kamara is under siege. Some people want him out of New Orleans. We’ve seen the New Orleans Saints running back suggested as a trade piece to help an AFC contender take down the Kansas City Chiefs, but that was fantasy.
Kamara has more seriously been suggested as a potential salary cap casualty, and the team does need to figure out a solution for the challenges posed by his contract. Now, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport sees Kamara as a surprise trade candidate, writing:
Kamara is coming off a season in which he set a new career low in scrimmage yards. In two of the past three seasons, Kamara has failed to gain four yards per carry. New Orleans spent a Day 2 pick last year on Kendre Miller—ostensibly as Kamara’s successor. And Kamara has reached the point in his career where running backs generally begin to decline.
It’s fully understandable why people would feel New Orleans should move on from Kamara. Most teams are ready to throw away their running backs when they begin to get close to 30 years old. Derrick Henry was released by the Tennessee Titans right after hitting 30. Kendre Miller does seemed poised to replace Kamara if he can stay healthy. Combine the age, drop in production, and heir-apparent on the roster and it’s understandable why Kamara is assumed to be on his way out in New Orleans.
Kamara is still a prominent part of improving the rushing attack. With the introduction of offensive corodinator Klint Kubiak, the Saints running game should be revitalized. Kamara has not been put in a position to succeed over the last couple of seasons. He should and will be given one more season to prove he hasn’t lost it. There isn’t a better system for him to prove that than the Shanahan system Kubiak will be installing.
