Who would have thought the New England Patriots would be in this position six games into Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach. The 4-2 Patriots have now cemented themselves as buyers with the trade deadline just three weeks away. Sitting atop the AFC East for the first time this decade, the Patriots have the easiest remaining schedule in the National Football League. This means they are just one or two stars away from making a deep playoff run.
There has been just one glaring issue for the Patriots thus far and that is, of course, the running game. Coming into the season, this unit was thought to be a strength. With three capable backs spear heading Josh McDaniels’ new offense, it was believed that New England one lean on this aspect of their offense.
But now half way through October, the Patriots have not had an individual rusher eclipse 55 yards in a single game. Their third piece, Antonio Gibson, had his season ended. And in the team’s two losses, no back ran for 30+ yards. It’s beginning to become a growing concern.
Enter Alvin Kamara. Kamara is a five time Pro Bowler entering his ninth season with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are in year one of a full blown rebuild that has already been derailed by completely whiffing on a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. They have the worst record in the NFC and will not be making any sort of post season run anytime soon.
Kamara, conversely, had 76 total yards last week when the Pats were in town and at age 30 has shown no signs of regression.
What It Would Cost To Trade For Alvin Kamara
With the Patriots being in what feels like the third and final year of a full blown rebuild, they have accumulated quite the collection of draft picks. In next year’s draft, they have ten picks including two in the fourth round and two in the sixth and seventh.
I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to parting ways with one, if not both, of these fourth rounders to secure a player that is well on his way to making a Hall of Fame case.
The only problem is that the Saints don’t seem overly interested in trading him.
“While New Orleans will continue to get calls — and time will tell how receptive they are to trading starters — Kamara isn’t expected to go anywhere,” reports insider Ian Rapaport. “(Saints‘ General Manager) Loomis informed the homegrown player of interest elsewhere and wanted to be transparent. The question was simply: Would you want to go? Kamara expressed his preference to stay in New Orleans, the team that selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.”
Kamara’s Contract Examined
As far as superstars go, Alvin Kamara’s contract is very tradeable. This time of the year, teams are looking to acquire players with short term deals. This is so that at the end of the season, whether or not they reach their goal, they are not tied to this entity.
Kamara’s contract fits this description. By acquiring him in October, the Patriots would only be on the hook for his $2.6 million base salary.
However, if he isn’t then dealt before June 1st of next season, New England would take on his full $15 million contract for 2026.
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