The Jacksonville Jaguars let running back Travis Etienne walk in free agency because they're confident that sophomore Bhayshul Tuten can step in his place. Heck, head coach Liam Coen says that the team has yet to utilize his full skill set. Still, Etienne's exit left a void on the depth chart, and the Jags brought in Chris Rodriguez in free agency to fill his place.
While Jacksonville is high on both Etienne and Rodriguez, outside voices believe it would make sense to add another running back, preferably a veteran. And just recently, an NFL analyst suggested they trade for a five-time Pro Bowler.
Jaguars pitched to trade for Saints RB Alvin Kamara
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report drew up a list of trade packages for NFL players in need of a fresh start. He included Alvin Kamara and named the Jaguars a potential destination for him, arguing that he would add a proven option to a backfield that's lacking experience.
"After winning 13 games and capturing the AFC South in 2025, the Jags are living in the now," Davenport wrote. "The team lost Etienne in free agency, and while Jacksonville signed Chris Rodriguez Jr. and has second-year pro Bhayshul Tuten on the roster, Rodriguez has never logged 120 carries in a season, and Tuten averaged just 3.7 yards per carry as a rookie."
Davenport continued, "Would Kamara immediately slot as the lead back in Duval County? No. But the Jaguars have more than a little uncertainty in the backfield as things stand, and Kamara would be an inexpensive insurance policy if those young backs cannot get the job done."
After New Orleans signed Travis Etienne to a three-year deal worth $52 million, Kamara became expendable. But he still has one-year left in his current deal and wants to play it out. Saints general manager Micky Loomis is assessing the roster and seeing where the veteran running back fits.
Outright cutting Kamara would only free up a bit over $300,000 in 2026 but would give New Orleans $10.4 million in cap relief last year. On the other hand, trading him after June 1 would create $3.3 million in space and leave dead cap hits of $7 million and $8.1 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
When you take the financials into account, the Saints may rather trade Kamara, and Daveport suggests in his article that a fifth-round selection could get a deal done. Coincidentally, the Jags are slated to get a compensatory fifth after letting Etienne bolt in free agency.
The truth is that trading for Kamara wouldn't be cost-prohibitive. Leaving aside the cost of the move, he has an affordable $1.3 million in base salary. But does that mean Jacksonville should make a push for him?
Why would the Jaguars trade for Alvin Kamara?
Alvin Kamara was one of the top running backs in the NFL during his prime. But that was several years ago. The last time he made the Pro Bowl was in 2021 and averaged less than 4.0 years per carry over the past two of the four seasons. This is a roundabout way to say that his days are behind me, which makes you wonder just how much he could truly help the Jaguars.
At first sight, Bhayshul Tunen's average of 3.7 yards per carry appears to be a reason for concern. But that's deceiving when you take into account that 25 percent of his totes came in short-down situations. If the sophomore running back takes on the role Travis Etienne had in 2025, he should be in a position to break out.
Member when Bhayshul Tuten entered his first playoff game and ripped off gains of 20, 14, and 13 on three-straight runs?
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) May 20, 2026
Instant energy https://t.co/D6XXx7JzDq pic.twitter.com/yhXOuABiwB
On the other hand, Chris Rodriguez was way more productive than his stat line suggests. Although he only racked up 500 yards on 112 yards in 2025, he ranked second among running backs in yards per contact and eighth in rushing success rate. Moreover, his lack of tread on the tires isn't necessarily a bad thing. Quite the opposite. The former Kentucky Wildcat doesn't have much wear or tear, so he basically landed with Jacksonville at the perfect point of his career.
LeQuint Allen Jr. and J'Mari Taylor are also in the mix. The former is a pass-blocking specialist who can catch the ball out of the backfield. The latter signed as an undrafted free agent and could make veteran DeeJay Dallas expendable.
When you add it all up, it simply doesn't make sense for the Jaguars to trade for Alvin Kamara. Maybe they could kick the tires on him if the Saints release him and either Tuten or Rodriduez struggles in training camp. However, it doesn't seem like a realistic possibility for the moment.
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