newsweek
The New Orleans Saints signed ex-Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr.
to a reported four-year, $52 million contract during free agency in March.
The move added fuel to the rumor that veteran running back Alvin Kamara was on his way out, but reports of Kamara's Saints swan song were greatly exaggerated.
"Alvin Kamaras agent Brad Cicala tells me and [Ian Rapoport] the new deal for his client, which [Nick Underhill] and [Terron Armstead] reported was imminent, has been agreed to," Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday, July 15.
Alvins goal, and the teams goal, was for him to remain with the Saints and retire a Saint," Cicala said.
Kamara, 30, is entering his 10th NFL season since the Saints selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The five-time Pro Bowler became one of the most dynamic backs in the league both as a runner and a receiver and he is the Saints' all-time leader in career rushing yards (7,250) and career rushing touchdowns (61).
Kamara is coming off of his least productive year yet, however, as his 2025 season ended in Week 12 due to ankle and knee injuries.
He logged 471 yards and one touchdown on 131 carries across 11 games all career lows.
The burden of prolific productivity will now fall on Etienne Jr.'s shoulders, and second-year head coach Kellen Moore can be trusted to find creative ways for Kamara to still make an impact.
Kamara isn't worried about it.
"We've done it here before," Kamara said during Saints' OTAs, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell.
"I mean, you saw Mark [Ingram] and I, and then you saw Latavius [Murray] and I, and I think just having two talented backs, it benefits each back.
I don't think you have an issue with defenses focusing on one or the other.
It's like, you got to try to prepare for both.
I mean, it puts them in a dilemma right there [...] I think we'll complement each other well.
It's two talented dudes." Don't look now, but the Saints' offensive suddenly features several really talented dudes.
Quarterback Tyler Shough was a finalist for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Saints drafted wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the No.
8 overall pick in April, and he'll pair with star receiver Chris Olave.
In the wide-open NFC South, New Orleans should contend to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season.