Tag: Alvin Kamara

The New Orleans Saints are the 2nd-worst team in the NFC

Numbers don’t lie. The Saints’ season can be summed up by two numbers, 2 and 6, but those numbers run deeper than just their record:

They say “numbers don’t lie.” Well, here are a couple of numbers about the New Orleans Saints’ season thus far.

2. The New Orleans Saints have the second worst record in the NFC. The only team with a worse record is the Carolina Panthers. The Saints defeated them in Week 1. Klint Kubiak seemed to revive Alvin Kamara and the run game. Derek Carr was flourishing in a play action dominant system. Maybe they can recapture some magic against the Panthers this upcoming week.

6. The Dennis Allen-led squad has suffered consecutive defeats for a month and a half. Spencer Rattler was at the helm for half of the games and Carr was responsible for the other half. The losses started close, but the Saints have been outclassed since Week 4.

2. This is the amount of wins the Saints have. Nothing to explain here. It’s been so long, that it was nice to reflect on the good times that were cut way too short this year.

6. This is where the Saints are currently drafting prior to Monday night’s game. Staying close to the top-5 should bring lengthy conversations about drafting a first round quarterback and possibly trading up for one.

Things are bad in New Orleans. The offense has been lifeless since Week 2, other than the first half against Atlanta. The energy has been drained from the fan base, and the season can be summed up with two numbers, 2 and 6. Ironically, that’s the Saints record.

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Injuries are robbing the Saints of an explosive running back

Week 8 told the story of Kendre Miller’s career with the Saints. He has all the makings of an explosive lead back — except for health:

It’s hard to not be enamored with how Kendre Miller runs the ball. When he receives the handoff, there’s a different burst as he goes through the hole. It’s explosive and creates an appetite for more. Unfortunately through his two years in the NFL, injuries have and continue to keep New Orleans Saints fans famished.

In just his second game back from injury, Miller has already suffered another hamstring injury. That’s been what has derailed him from forming a true one-two punch with Alvin Kamara.

Miller has the skill set to be a lead back, and you want him to touch the ball more. He had gains of 1, 10, and 5 yards on just three attempts with a couple of other runs called back by penalty. He’s averaging 5.8  yards per attempt through two games this year. The problem is you can’t use a player when he’s not on the field. As long as injuries continue to plague Miller, the Saints won’t be able to trust him with expanded responsibilities.

No one should fault the Saints for investing in a new running back this year. Matter of fact, it may be more condemnable to not invest in the position.

At full health, Miller is fully equipped to help carry the workload. Unfortunately for him and the Saints, health is Miller’s biggest issue.

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Alvin Kamara puts pen to paper on his new Saints contract extension

Alvin Kamara put pen to paper on his new Saints contract extension, emphasizing how it feels to have his loyalty reciprocated:

It’s been a big week for Alvin Kamara. The New Orleans Saints running back signed a two-year contract extension tying him to the team through 2026, giving him the opportunity to finish his career with the team that drafted  him. And for Kamara, it was great to see the loyalty he’s expressed be reciprocated.

“This city has been loyal to me. This organization has been loyal to me. I don’t feel like I would get this same feeling I get putting on the fleur-de-lis anywhere else,” Kamara told reporters this week.

Kamara did everything he could to emphasize his loyalty to the team by working hard every day at training camp (and not holding out), being a good leader and positive locker room influence, and even playing through injury.  And his efforts were recognized. Saints head coach Dennis Allen praised Kamara’s approach throughout the process.

“I think he handled it the right way,” Allen said. “He has been very productive for us and this year, he has been outstanding for us. He’s come in every day and gone to work, done the things we’ve asked him to do, so when you do those things you get rewarded.”

Now the five-time Pro Bowler gets to finish his career in black and gold. Kamara turned 29 in July and he has the rest of 2024, all of 2025 and a penultimate 2026 season to continue building his legacy. Will he keep going after that? We’ll see. But for now, this is a win for him. No wonder he was all smiles when signing his contract.

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Will the Broncos trade for any more Saints players?

Broncos coach Sean Payton has already traded draft picks for Wil Lutz and Adam Trautman. Will he add any more Saints players?

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has eight former New Orleans Saints players on his current squad. Two of those players were acquired via trades.

During his first draft with the team, Payton (and general manager George Paton) agreed to trade a sixth-round pick to the Saints in exchange for tight end Adam Trautman and a seventh-round pick in April 2023.

Four months later, the Broncos traded a seventh-round pick to New Orleans in exchange for kicker Wil Lutz. Trautman’s production has been modest in Denver, but Lutz was a key addition as he is 17-of-18 on field goal attempts this season.

So, with the NFL’s trade deadline (Nov. 5) drawing closer, will the Broncos trade for any more Saints in 2024?

The biggest name bantied about is running back Alvin Kamara, but he seems unlikely to move after signing a two-year extension.

Another popular name often linked to Payton is Taysom Hill, a do-everything tight end who Payton discovered on the NFL’s waiver wire in 2017. Hill is probably a more realistic target than Kamara, but his contract could complicate a potential move.

A third name to keep an eye on could be tight end Foster Moreau. He arrived in New Orleans after Payton left, but Moreau has 11 receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns this season. He would lead Denver’s tight ends in all three categories if he posted those numbers with the Broncos this fall.

We’ll see if Payton adds to his collection of former Saints in the coming weeks. We will track all of Denver’s potential moves on Broncos Wire.

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5 Saints players to watch vs. Chargers in Week 8

The Saints are in the midst of a five-game skid, but the Chargers will still have to keep their eye on a few playmakers this weekend.

The Chargers are back to .500, and now they are set to face the 2-5 New Orleans Saints. After a blazing hot start to the season, the Saints have lost five consecutive games.

Injuries have caught up to them, particularly at the quarterback position, but they are better than their 2-5 record suggests. Here are some Saints players to keep an eye on in this Week 8 matchup.

RB Alvin Kamara

Even at 29 years old, Kamara remains the Saints’ most dynamic weapon. The veteran has 690 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns in seven contests this season. As usual, he’s been used heavily in the passing game, leading all running backs with 34 catches. Expect more of the same in Week 8, especially if Derek Carr is ruled inactive.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

The seventh-year veteran was released by the Bills just over a week ago and then picked up by the Saints earlier this week. Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans’ primary deep threat, is out for the year with a knee injury. Valdes-Scantling has been known for his big-play ability throughout his career. Even if he doesn’t get on the field much, the Chargers secondary will need to keep an eye on him due to his speed.

TE Taysom Hill

He’s become a jack of all trades for the Saints, as he can line up virtually anywhere on the field. Hill is a weapon in the red zone, where New Orleans uses him as a runner. He’s averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 14 attempts this season, in addition to two rushing touchdowns in three games. Hill has missed the past month with a rib injury, but he’s set to return this weekend and the Chargers will need to account for him, particularly in the redzone.

LB Carl Granderson

Granderson continues to make his name as one of the more underrated pass rushers in football. With Cameron Jordan’s play declining, Granderson has stepped up. He’s tabbed 29 QB pressures, three sacks, and a forced fumble on the season. While the Chargers possess one of the best tackle duos in football, Granderson could pose a problem this weekend.

CB Alontae Taylor

In coverage, Taylor hasn’t been necessarily great. Entering Week 8, he ranks 174th out of 195 qualified cornerbacks in pass coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. On the flip side, though, he’s been one of the best blitzers in the NFL. Taylor has racked up 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, some exceptional numbers out of a defensive back. Greg Roman and the Chargers offense will need to make sure to account for Taylor on blitzes so that he doesn’t affect the outcome of the game.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 8 opponent: Saints

Here are some important things to know about the Saints ahead of the Week 8 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers return home to face the Saints on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1:05 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 8 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Saints are 2-5 on the season. New Orleans has lost its last five games.

Rookie under center

The Saints announced they’re starting first-year quarterback Spencer Rattler for the third straight week. Rattler was thrown in as the starter when Derek Carr sustained an oblique injury in Week 5. This will be Rattler’s first game on the road. The former South Carolina product has completed 62.7% of his passes for 415 yards with one touchdown to two interceptions.

Could be getting some key players back

Aside from being without Carr, the Saints were without some other important offensive players last weekend against the Broncos. Wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) and tight end Taysom Hill (ribs), who were both out in Week 7, returned to full participation at practice Thursday. Additionally, guard Cesar Ruiz and linebacker Pete Werner were present for practice.

Run all over

The Chargers struggled to run the football last Monday. However, there is an excellent opportunity for a bounce-back performance against a Saints defense that is allowing 146.7 yards rushing per game and 5.4 yards per carry. Since Week 3, New Orleans has allowed 901 yards on the ground, the most in the NFL in that span.

Look out for…

Running back Alvin Kamara. Cardinals RB James Connor had his way with the Chargers defense. Now, Los Angeles will prepare for another one of the league’s better backs. Kamara is a dual-threat weapon who’s posted 690 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.

Alvin Kamara credits a secret superstar for managing recent injuries

Alvin Kamara hasn’t missed a game despite dealing with several injuries, including a broken hand. Kamara gives all the credit to his secret superstar

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has dealt with a few injuries already through the first half of the season. The notable injuries are related to his hip and ribs. On Wednesday, Kamara revealed more details on another ailment that’s been listed on the injury report. The running back broke his hand earlier this season and has been dealing with it since Week 5 per NewOrleansFootball’s Nick Underhill.

Kamara credits his physical therapist Jose Tienda for the ability to make these injuries manageable. Kamara nicknamed him Mr. Miyagi and gives him high praise. “He can’t heal bones, but he gets close. We come in every week and we kind of just assess where everything is at and we come up with a plan. Like, by Sunday we have to get to this percent.”

That plan didn’t change when Kamara came to Tienda with a broken hand. Tienda’s thought process remained that Kamara could reach a certain percentage by Sunday to still be effective. The injury happened on a Monday night game, and Kamara was still good to go on a short week.

As Kamara deals with these injuries, you may wonder how long he can maintain. There’s no concrete answer without a crystal ball, but Kamara says, “as long as I feel I can protect myself on the field, I’m going to go.”

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Saints vs. Chargers may come down to this pivotal stat

With a pair of offensive linemen hopefully returning, the Saints’ ability to open up running lanes should improve. It has to if they’re going to end this losing streak.

One of the biggest flaws of the New Orleans Saints this season has been the struggles in the offensive line.

The Saints are middle of the pack in run blocking this year, currently possessing 16th best run block win rate. Both teams are going to prioritize the run offensively. The Los Angeles Chargers are really good at stopping the run.

Joey Bosa is dealing with an injury, but at best the Saints will still have to deal with Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree. As a team, the Chargers have the 8th best run stop win rate.

Lucas Patrick and Cesar Ruiz may return from injury this week for the Saints. That should help matters. Alvin Kamara started the season on fire, but injuries have made it difficult for Kamara to find running lanes.

Running the football is the identity of this team, and they’ve been unable to do it in recent games. It’s a big reason the offense has stalled out. This week they’re going against one of the best rush defenses in the league.

If trends continue, the Chargers will dominate the trenches which will greatly limit the Saints’ chances of victory.

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Early extension saved Saints a ton of money against the 2025 salary cap

An early extension with Alvin Kamara saved the Saints a ton of money against the 2025 salary cap. Next year’s cap gymnastics just got easier:

Now that’s some crafty accounting, but we’ve come to expect it from the New Orleans Saints. Alvin Kamara reached an agreement on a two-year extension with the Saints this week, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the move is saving the team some money when it comes to the 2025 salary cap. Kamara’s early extension opened up about $18 million in savings on next year’s spending limit.

So how did the Saints manage to pay Kamara more money while spending less against the cap? We’ll know more when further details are shared about his deal’s structure, but NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill shares that it includes a $15.5 million signing bonus and $22.23 million in guarantees.

Kamara was initially on the books for 2025 at a staggering cap hit north of $29 million, with $25 million of it non-guaranteed, which made him a possible salary cap casualty. Instead, the Saints guaranteed a big portion of it but spread it out as a signing bonus (likely with their signature automatically-voiding “ghost years” tacked on).

The end result? Kamara’s 2025 cap hit should now fall at around $11 million, which is very manageable. And the Saints should now have somewhere close to $324 million in cap liabilities. Depending on where you look the 2025 salary cap is projected to rise to as high as $273 million, though more conservative models put it at just $260 million. The Saints still need to clear  at least $64 million before they can turn to signing new players, but that’s a problem for another day.

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Breaking: Saints, Alvin Kamara agree on a two-year extension

Breaking: Saints, Alvin Kamara agree on a two-year extension

This is big: NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms on a two-year extension valued at $24.5 million that puts him under contract through 2026. The deal puts Kamara in position to retire with the team that drafted him out of Tennessee back in 2017, and it puts him on track to continue chasing that spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame he so badly covets.

Garafolo adds that Kamara’s new deal replaces the $25 million in non-guaranteed money he was due in 2025. Instead, he receives $22 million in guarantees with an extra year tacked on. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill confirmed the news, observing that Kamara’s reported average annual value clocks in at about $12.25 million per year, just beneath the $12.5 million Saquon Barkley is earning from the Philadelphia Eagles,

Kamara has already won a host of awards and records in his storied NFL career. The five-time Pro Bowl running back tied a league record for the most touchdowns scored in a single game (6), and he’s also tied with the great Marshall Faulk for the most successful two-point conversions in league history (7). The 2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year already owns Saints franchise records for touchdowns scored (85 and counting) and rushing touchdowns (60, with more to come), and he’s closing in quickly on the career rushing yards record set by his close friend Mark Ingram II (he’s 234 yards away). If he can go the distance, it’ll be tough to keep him out of Canton when it’s all said and done.

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