PHOENIX — When Kellen Moore says there’s a process that has to unfold with Alvin Kamara, the New Orleans Saints coach hasn’t directly said what those next steps have to be.
So what does he mean?
Based on buzz from the NFL owners’ meetings this week, a clearer picture is emerging. The Saints would still like to address Kamara’s contract, even after deploying a quietly used salary cap tactic to lower his cap hit from north of $18 million to roughly $10.5 million.
Addressing that could mean asking Kamara to take a pay cut. Or it could mean parting ways entirely, whether through a trade or cutting him. The Saints have yet to decide on which path they want to take, preferring to let the draft unfold first.
New Orleans had informed Kamara that the team planned to add another running back regardless, and the Saints did exactly that when they signed Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract.
Etienne’s arrival does not preclude the Saints from adding even more at the position in the draft, whether that’s a big-name player such as Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love at No. 8 or a later-round selection like Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton.
With the draft not for another three weeks, however, that still puts the Saints and Kamara in a wait-and-see pattern.
Here’s what else the Times-Picayune heard from the three-day event
Demario clarity
One of the more curious developments of free agency for the Saints was for Demario Davis to leave and sign a two-year, $22 million deal ($15 million guaranteed) with the New York Jets — only for New Orleans to then sign Kaden Elliss for the same average annual salary ($11 million per year), a bigger guarantee ($23 million) and a longer term (three years).
Did the Saints prioritize Elliss because they wanted to get younger — Elliss is 30, Davis 37 — and he is viewed as more versatile at this stage of their careers? Not exactly.
Initially, the Saints explored the idea of an Elliss reunion — in addition to Davis coming back. But the Saints were left with the impression that Davis simply preferred New York, with New Orleans’ offer not that different from the Jets.
The Saints then pivoted to focus fully on Elliss, raising their price to meet what Elliss wanted.
Publicly and privately, the Saints and Davis have harbored no ill will toward the split. The sides released lengthy statements about gratefulness for their eight years together, while Davis told reporters in New York that he felt his “mission personally was a little incomplete” with the Jets.
"This wasn't a happenstance situation,” said Davis, who is on his third stint with the Jets, the team that drafted him. “This was a choice, knowing who I am and what I am called to be. I know what I'm stepping into this time around. I know what I'm bringing into a locker room. I know I play the game at an elite level. I know every year I'm trying to play better than the prior year."
Cam sticking point
Like with Kamara, the Saints are content waiting out the situation with Cam Jordan. New Orleans would be open to a return, even if it drafts a young pass rusher. Eventually, there will be a time when the Saints need to know Jordan’s choice so they can move forward — but that’s far from a hard deadline.
On a podcast with Terron Armstead, Jordan said he has a “set value” related to money and his role. The Saints don’t believe that money, in this case, is what is holding up the deal. Instead, the issue could be related to the role.
If the Saints, for example, draft Rueben Bain with the eighth pick, that would seemingly move Jordan from the team’s third edge rusher to its fourth. Jordan has said he wants to continue chasing history with an opportunity to rack up “10, 12, 13” sacks.
The Saints are letting Jordan decide if New Orleans is still the best fit for him, or if there is a better opportunity elsewhere. They feel he’s earned the right to explore his options, something that Moore publicly said when he spoke with reporters Monday.
Olave extension
No surprise here, but the reason the Saints and Chris Olave have yet to lock up an extension appears to be that the sides don’t agree on the price tag.
Only three receivers average more than $35 million per year, but nine make at least $30 million. The Saints haven’t entirely balked at the latter range but don’t appear to have gotten there quite yet. And the guarantees are especially relevant to these talks. Despite Olave playing 16 games last year without suffering a brain injury, the wide receiver’s concussion history potentially complicates the negotiation. The Saints are willing to take on some risk to pay Olave, but not all of it.
Regardless of whether a deal with Olave gets done before the season, the Saints want to add another body at his position. There are three notable prospects — Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon — who have been linked to New Orleans at No. 8, but the Saints like the wideout depth in this year’s draft enough that even if they take another position in the first round, they feel they can land a talented contributor afterward.
Rapid fire
Beyond wide receiver and defensive end, other positions the Saints potentially could add over the next few months include a cornerback, an interior offensive lineman and a run-stuffing defensive lineman.
Don’t be surprised if the Saints add another kicker to compete with Charlie Smyth in training camp. New Orleans was pleased with Smyth’s emergence, but the team will explore adding someone to compete and push the incumbent in the offseason.
The Saints signed Zach Wilson but might not be done at quarterback. The plan is to re-sign Hunter Dekkers, the fourth-stringer who spent last year as a developmental quarterback, once the United Football League wraps up.
Bryan Bresee only had two sacks in 2025 after recording 7½ in 2024, but the feeling is that last year was actually a step forward for him in terms of the rest of his game. That could inform what the team does in terms of the defensive lineman’s fifth-year option, which must be decided by May.
Moore said the Saints would hold most of training camp in Metairie but would like to have joint practices that could require travel. Traveling to practice against the Los Angeles Rams, like last year, is an option. The Saints would also like to host a team at their headquarters before a preseason game, though that depends on the preseason schedule.
Whom the Saints use to replace Alontae Taylor remains to be seen. Internally, there’s a belief that safety Julian Blackmon, cornerback Quincy Riley, safety Jordan Howden or even cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry could kick inside to cover the slot as New Orleans’ “STAR” defender. But the latter depends on the Saints drafting another outside cornerback.
With the quarterback market mostly settled, aside from Aaron Rodgers deciding on his future, the Saints still haven’t received any calls inquiring about retired quarterback Derek Carr.