Strike 3: In his two years in Dove Valley, Sean Payton has made it very clear that he still values much of what he left behind in New Orleans when he departed the sidelines of the Superdome after the 2021 season. Nearly every chance he’s had to bring in one of his old coaches or staff members, he’s done so.
Coming off their best year since the Super Bowl season of 2015, the Denver Broncos are in a good spot to start addressing specific needs. Payton’s third draft with Denver this coming April will offer the Broncos a chance to add a badly needed playmaking running back to the roster. But would Payton look south to the Big Easy to fill that void instead?
Is there any reasonable way to make Alvin Kamara a Denver Bronco?
Kamara is not a secret to the rest of the NFL. He’s not someone Payton coached who’s under the radar and could be stolen away from the Saints for little or nothing. Kamara is a bonafide NFL star, and New Orleans has not placed him on the trading block nor made any noises about not wanting him around. If Sean Payton wanted to coach Alvin Kamara again, it would come at a major cost.
For example, would the Broncos trade their first-round pick, No. 20 overall, for Kamara?
Any plan to try to land the former Rookie of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler in a trade starts with the fact that the Saints aren’t in a good place right now. They’ll have a new coach and are in rebuilding mode. Those situations typically mean even star players can be made available for the right package of players and draft picks. After all, New Orleans finished 5-12, and last in the lousy NFC South this past season with Kamara rushing for 950 yards and six touchdowns.
They could have finished last without him, too. They need a good deal more help in a lot of positions.
The 29-year-old Kamara has rushed for almost 7,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in his NFL career so far. While critics will point to the fact that Payton never really committed to the running game this past season and there’s no assurance he will next year, the veteran coach may have used his backs more if they were more versatile. Kamara is also an adept pass catcher, having compiled almost 600 catches, 25 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 receiving yards in his eight-year career. Running backs like him don’t typically have lengthy careers, but his productivity should still be at a high level for three to four more seasons.
What’s that worth in a trade scenario?
The NFL Draft guru’s say Denver should be able to draft Boise State superstar running back Ashton Jeanty with their first pick. Jeanty would be a great pick up – at least on paper. But drafting running backs has always been a crap shoot. Being a first-round pick is no guarantee of success any more than being a sixth-round pick – like the GOAT of Denver running backs, Terrell Davis – means a guy is an afterthought. Jeanty could end up providing Denver the same kind of production Kamara has given the Saints to date, and perhaps for several more seasons. Or he could be a bust.
Kamara is a known commodity. Payton clearly favors known commodities (remember Bo Nix played 60 games in college.) He favors what he’s known up close and personnel that much more.
