The Baltimore Ravens are not only continuing their eternal quest to get Lamar Jackson more offensive support, but they might need a brand-new starting running back due to Gus Edwards hitting the free agent market. Could the New Orleans Saints help them out by dangling Alvin Kamara?
The Saints appear to have finally run out of time and must pay the salary cap piper, which could make names like Kamara available. Bleacher Report seems to believe that Eric DeCosta and Baltimore would jump at Kamara if they had the chance.
A proposed trade from B/R has the Ravens flipping some late draft capital to New Orleans for Kamara, who recorded 1,160 yards from scrimmage last year. Due to his gigantic contract and hiccup last year, this trade might be riskier than it appears on paper.
For those pondering Alvin Kamara, per @PFF he has probably been the single worst pass blocking RB in the #NFL for the past 3 seasons. If you want him on the field for passing downs, he's got to at least be able to do some of that.#RavensFlock
— Ken McKusick (@FilmstudyRavens) February 14, 2024
Grade the Trade: B/R has Baltimore Ravens acquiring Alvin Kamara from Saints
Kamara would immediately be the best running back Jackson has played with, serving as both a big-play threat and one of the best pass-catching backs the game has ever seen. Adding him would not only replace a free agent in Edwards, but it could give the MVP a No. 2 or No. 3 receiving option.
Kamara will be leaving a Saints offensive line that was falling to pieces last season alongside an overmatched coaching staff led by Dennis Allen and Pete Carmichael. An environment alongside an OC like Todd Monken and a quarterback like Jackson seems like a better place to maximize his talents.
The negatives, however, are plentiful. Even proponents of giving running backs big contracts would scoff at giving Kamara what he received in New Orleans. Kamara would have the highest cap hit of any running back in 2024, and he would still weigh on Baltimore's balance sheet even if New Orleans agreed to pay some of his deal.
Kamara will turn 29 years old in July, is fresh off the worst season of his career in which he didn't even average four yards per carry, and has received a heavy workload of over 200 touches every year of his career. For a somewhat smaller back who won't pass block at all, the wear and tear he suffered with the Saints must be acknowledged.
While the Ravens should wait to see if New Orleans gets rid of Kamara via cut before entertaining this trade, as doing so would burden them with a preposterous contract that would make it tough to sign free agents. Still, if the goal is to go all-in and get the most out of Jackson's prime, Kamara could be the best skill player he's ever had.
Grade: B-