The Buffalo Bills’ offseason coaching overhaul has triggered league-wide speculation regarding a potential high-profile addition to the backfield.
Following the promotion of Joe Brady to head coach and the January hiring of longtime New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, external analysts are pointing to a familiar veteran as a logical trade target.
Could the Bills Land Alvin Kamara in a Trade Thanks to Pete Carmichael Connection?
In a recent report detailing the NFL’s top remaining trade candidates, FOX Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman identified five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara as a prime option for Buffalo.
The main driver of a potential move is a shifting roster structure in New Orleans. In March, the Saints signed unrestricted free agent Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year contract, bringing the Louisiana native home after a 2025 campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he logged 1,107 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns.
With Etienne established as the Saints’ primary option, the 30-year-old Kamara faces a significantly reduced role for the first time in his nine-year career.
“Alvin Kamara just turned 30, and with the New Orleans Saints signing Travis Etienne in free agency, he won’t be the Saints’ featured back for the first time in his career,” Auman noted in his column.
“New Orleans takes on $18 million in dead money (split over two years) if they cut him and $15 million if they trade him… POTENTIAL LANDING SPOT: Buffalo Bills, where former longtime Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is now the offensive coordinator.”
Carmichael was directing the Saints’ offense when New Orleans selected Kamara in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over their seven seasons together, Kamara earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections (2017–2021) and consistently surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage each year, establishing himself as one of the premier dual-threat weapons in the league.
Despite the clear schematic familiarity, Kamara’s recent statistical trajectory presents a hurdle for a Buffalo team coming off a 12-5 regular season.
Under Brady’s guidance last year, the Bills’ offense ranked fourth in both total yards and scoring, powered heavily by James Cook, who claimed the NFL rushing title with 1,621 yards.
Kamara’s recent production has shown signs of decline. In 2025, he recorded 657 scrimmage yards and just one touchdown, averaging 3.6 yards per carry and a career-low 5.6 yards per reception. Kamara earned a failing RB Impact grade of F in 2025, with a 46.0 Impact Score that ranked 50th among running backs for the season and 622nd overall.
Analytical evaluations indicate that internal alternatives may offer a more efficient and cost-effective route than absorbing Kamara’s contract.
Specifically, running back Ty Johnson proved highly efficient in his limited 2025 role, generating 463 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns while averaging 4.0 yards per carry and 11.0 yards per reception.
Johnson’s existing rapport with quarterback Josh Allen further underscores the need for an expensive veteran trade.
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If Buffalo’s front office decides to pursue a deal, Brady’s historical tendencies suggest Kamara would not be brought in to carry a heavy workload. Instead, he would likely be utilized in a specialized committee role, primarily serving as a third-down receiving specialist.
Ultimately, the decision rests on whether the Bills view Kamara’s situational value and veteran leadership as worth the required trade assets and financial obligations.
