Saints' next Alvin Kamara step could reveal full plans

Alvin Kamara is still a member of the New Orleans Saints.

Whether that remains true throughout the rest of the offseason, or whether a trade arises, could depend on what happens next.

The Saints are approaching mandatory minicamp, and all eyes will be on Kamara.

Does he show up?

And if he shows up, how is he utilized?

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The Saints signed Travis Etienne in free agency from the Jaguars this offseason, and he's going to be the RB1.

The long-time star in New Orleans, Kamara, doesn't want to leave. But his contract isn't ideal for a second running back, and maybe he'll end up wanting more of a role than the Saints can give him.

"Kamara unexpectedly showed up to a practice in the second week of OTAs but did not return for the third week," ESPN's Katherine Terrell wrote on Monday. "Now all eyes will be on mandatory minicamp to see whether there is a resolution."

Kamara's only NFL team has been the Saints. It'd be weird to see him in a new uniform.

There also likely wouldn't be a ton of suitors because of his combination of salary and age, but his skillset would likely have appeal on the trade market.

Kamara could still be useful to the Saints, too, if they get the roles right.

"Saints coach Kellen Moore said early in the spring that there are enough snaps to go around between Kamara and newcomer Travis Etienne Jr., and that he's preparing as if Kamara will be on the team in 2026," Terrell writes. "Two days of minicamp might provide more clarity as to how the Saints handle the running back situation and whether Kamara appears to be in the team's plans moving forward."

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The Saints have done a pretty solid job in recent years of keeping key contributors around for the long haul.

Cameron Jordan is the biggest example of a player who just never really left.

Kamara doesn't seem to want to leave, but it could be up to the Saints to figure out what they really want to do with him.

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