Head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos have already bolstered a backfield that was four deep entering the offseason with J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. But CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin suggests the Broncos do more and trade for Alvin Kamara.
Kamara turns 30 in July and is entering his ninth season with the New Orleans Saints.
He was also selected in the third round of the 2017 draft while Payton was in the HC chair in New Orleans.
This Heavy Sports trade proposal follows a similar structure to Houston’s trade for Joe Mixon in 2024, when the Texans sent a seventh-round pick in that year’s draft for the two-time Pro Bowl back, who is younger and has been more durable than Kamara.
Broncos get:
- Alvin Kamara
Saints get:
- 2026 fifth-round pick
This deal offers greater draft capital because the Broncos would not need to re-work Kamara’s contract as the Texans did with Mixon.
It could give the Broncos a boost, though.
“New Orleans isn’t necessarily geared to compete for meaningful wins in 2025,” Benjamin wrote on June 26. “The Broncos, meanwhile, could still use additional big-play weapons for Bo Nix. And their coach, Sean Payton, was responsible for drafting and unleashing Kamara during his time with the Saints. So what if Denver signed J.K. Dobbins and drafted RJ Harvey? Payton wants depth to win on the ground, and besides, Kamara’s best attribute is collecting passes out of the backfield; he could be Nix’s top safety valve.”
Alvin Kamara’s Red Flags Likely Sink Any Broncos Trade
GettyAlvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints.
Benjamin acknowledged the potential hangups in any potential pursuit of a trade for Kamara by the Broncos, starting with new Saints head coach Kellen Moore’s comments about the five-time Pro Bowler and former Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“Moore has talked about wanting to center the Saints offense around Kamara in 2025, which could help ease the burden on [Tyler] Shough,” Benjamin wrote. “Kamara, meanwhile, has successfully navigated several contract disputes with New Orleans, inking a contract extension as recently as last October; he’s probably content standing pat, with $18.5 million due from the Saints in 2026.”
The Saints face the prospect of $3 million in savings to $7.1 million in dead money if they trade Kamara, who is on a two-year, $24.5 million contract, this offseason, per Over The Cap.
Benjamin also noted Kamara’s age and extensive injury history.
Broncos Could Make Good Use of RB Depth
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up before facing the Carolina Panthers.
Kamara rushed for 950 yards and 6 touchdowns on 228 carries and would have led the Broncos in all three categories. He operated in at least a tandem backfield for the first four years of his career, all under Payton, never surpassing 187 carries in that span.
Since then, Kamara has been under 200 totes one time, in 2023, and has logged at least 223 carries in the other three campaigns.
There may be no better staff to keep him fresh and, more importantly, healthy.
Dobbins has an extensive injury history of his own, Harvey is a rookie, and the rest of the Broncos’ backs have enough deficiencies to warrant the front office bringing in two new players this offseason.
A trade for Kamara could be one step beyond where the Broncos are willing to go, given their investment already, but the suggestion shows how much uncertainty still exists around them.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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