Alvin Kamara remains one of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs, with five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections on his résumé. Even at 30 years old, he continues to provide versatility as both a rusher and receiver, keeping him relevant among the league’s top playmakers.
Still, Kamara doesn’t seem like a natural fit for where the New Orleans Saints are right now. At 0-4, they’ve fallen into the league’s basement, and as Kamara moves deeper into the twilight of his career, both sides could benefit from a fresh start. A trade would give Kamara a chance to contribute on a contender while giving New Orleans assets for its rebuild.
Kansas City Chiefs
While moving him wouldn’t create massive financial relief — just over $3 million in 2026 — the Saints’ projected $21.8 million cap deficit makes every dollar count. Trading Kamara would ease their financial strain and net valuable draft capital, making it a logical step toward reshaping the roster.
As of this writing, Patrick Mahomes leads the Kansas City Chiefs in rushing yards. They’ve gone with a split backfield of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to begin the year, though neither of them has been particularly great through four games. That’s where Kamara comes in.
Behind a better offensive line and a better play caller in Kansas City, Kamara would likely have more room to make plays than he currently does in New Orleans. His receiving skills would also make him a valuable asset for the Chiefs, as no running back on their roster currently averages more than ten receiving yards per game.
With a bona fide star in the backfield, Xavier Worthy back from injury, and Rashee Rice’s return from suspension around the corner, the Chiefs would be incredibly tough to stop on offense. That’s not even including the presence of players like Travis Kelce and Hollywood Brown. Kamara would quickly become a valuable weapon for Patrick Mahomes, should the Chiefs trade for the star running back.
Washington Commanders
Austin Ekeler is out for the remainder of 2025 with a torn Achilles, leaving the Washington Commanders thin at the running back position. They’ve leaned heavily on a committee backfield this season, as while Jacory Croskey-Merritt leads the team in rushing, he only has 29 carries through four games.
Sitting at 2-2 currently, the Commanders haven’t been bad to begin the year. But they could still use a spark on offense to get them going, seeing as though they were projected as Super Bowl contenders going into the regular season.
Washington has the oldest roster in the NFL, and Kamara would fit right in from that perspective. More importantly, he would give the Commanders a proven RB1 in their push for contention in the NFC. Along with his value as a runner, he would also give them a high-level receiving back, which is something they’ve lacked since Ekeler went down for the year.
Arizona Cardinals
James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3, leaving the Arizona Cardinals without a key piece of their offense for the remainder of the year. Though he’s under contract through 2026, they could look to move on from his deal next offseason to save $8 million, especially if they acquire another veteran RB before the trade deadline.
Trey Benson has been filling in as Arizona’s lead back in Conner’s absence, and Kyler Murray is also one of the better rushing quarterbacks in the NFL today. However, Benson is unproven as a lead back, and even in his first game as their RB1, he only had eight carries. Adding another running back to the mix could be beneficial for the Cardinals.
READ MORE: Who Is Cardinals RB Trey Benson? Everything To Know About James Conner’s Replacement
Kamara would step into Arizona’s backfield as their top running back in a hypothetical trade scenario. His agility and contact balance would make him a valuable addition to both their run game and passing attack. Through four games this year, nobody outside of Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. has more than 70 receiving yards. Bringing in one of the best receiving backs in the league would help round out their aerial assault.
Chicago Bears
D’Andre Swift averaged just 3.8 yards per carry in 2024, and the start to his 2025 campaign is looking like a lot of the same. With just 3.3 yards per carry through four games, he isn’t playing at the caliber the Chicago Bears would likely want out of their top running back.
It’s not just Swift; the Bears’ depth at running back is also not ideal. Kyle Monangai has been serviceable by seventh-round rookie standards, but at 3.6 yards per carry, he isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire. Ben Johnson had a dynamic running back duo in Detroit with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. He doesn’t have that in Chicago now.
Kamara would bring a slightly similar skill set to Swift, seeing as though both are dynamic in space and capable receiving backs. However, the former is much more reliable as a downhill runner in between the tackles than the latter. With the Bears sitting at 2-2 going into their Week 5 bye week, making an upgrade at running back could help them make a push for the playoffs.
