Saints’ Draft Dilemma: How Pittsburgh’s Picks Could Decide the Fate of Alvin Kamara and Cam Jordan
NEW ORLEANS — As the New Orleans Saints prepare to make the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on Thursday, the franchise stands at a crossroads. For the first time in nearly a decade, the futures of two of the most iconic players in team history—running back Alvin Kamara and defensive end Cam Jordan—hinge not just on contract talks, but on the names written on index cards in the war room.
General Manager Mickey Loomis offered a candid, albeit vague, assessment of the situation during his annual pre-draft press conference on Wednesday. When asked how the selections made over the next three days would affect the status of the veterans, Loomis did not offer the usual platitudes about retiring as Saints.
“Yeah, I think it could impact it,” Loomis said, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. “You know, we’ll see what happens. And that goes both ways—it could impact them, from their perspective as well as ours.”
For a franchise that has notoriously held onto its core veterans longer than most, this admission signals a significant shift in philosophy under new head coach Kellen Moore. The Saints are getting younger, and the draft is the catalyst for that change.
The Kamara Conundrum: Partnership or Trade Bait?
The situation surrounding Alvin Kamara is the most immediate puzzle facing the Saints’ front office.
Just last month, the Saints agreed to a two-year, $24.5 million contract extension with Kamara, seemingly solidifying the five-time Pro Bowler as a fixture in the backfield . However, that security was immediately complicated by the team’s aggressive signing of former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $48 million deal in free agency .
On the surface, the math looks crowded. Kamara, who turns 31 in July, is coming off the worst statistical season of his career, posting career lows in rushing yards (471) and total touchdowns (one) while missing six games due to injury . Yet, when healthy, he remains one of the most dangerous mismatch weapons in the league.
Coach Kellen Moore has publicly attempted to douse the flames of a controversy. “We feel like there’s ways you can manipulate all those guys and put them in plenty of situations,” Moore told reporters last month, insisting there are “enough snaps” for both Kamara and Etienne .
But actions speak louder than words. If the Saints truly believed in a 50-50 split between a 31-year-old Kamara and a 27-year-old Etienne—who is averaging $12 million per year—they would not be entertaining calls. Loomis’ admission that the draft could “impact” Kamara’s perspective suggests that if the Saints spend a premium pick on a running back, the veteran may seek an exit.
The Draft Factor: This year’s running back class is widely considered “incredibly shallow” by draft analysts like NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah . If the Saints do not draft a back in the first two days, Kamara’s role as the primary pass-catcher and change-of-pace back behind Etienne is secure. However, if New Orleans targets a player like Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr.—a physical specimen at 223 pounds who runs a 4.33 40-yard dash—in the third round, it signals a complete youth movement. In that scenario, Kamara becomes expendable.
The Trade Landscape: The shallow draft class actually helps Kamara’s trade value. Teams desperate for backfield help who miss out on the few available rookies could turn to the veteran market. The Seattle Seahawks, who lack a sure starter, and the Denver Broncos, where Kamara would reunite with former coach Sean Payton, are viewed as the most likely suitors .
The only obstacle remains Kamara’s heart. He has previously suggested he would rather drink a piña colada on a beach than play in another uniform . However, the arrival of Etienne and a potential rookie might change his calculus regarding finishing his career in the Big Easy.
The Jordan Question: A Race Against the Clock
While Kamara is under contract, Cam Jordan is not. The future Hall of Fame defensive end remains an unsigned free agent, and at 36 years old, he is facing the harsh reality of a rebuild.
Loomis noted that the draft “goes both ways” for Jordan. While the Saints might decide to move on if they draft a young pass rusher, Jordan might also decide to leave if he doesn’t like the depth chart .
Jordan has been transparent about his motivations. He isn’t just looking for a victory lap; he wants to play. He has stated publicly that he needs an opportunity to produce 10-12 sacks to climb further up the NFL’s all-time leaderboard .
The Staley Connection: The Saints’ defense is now under the guidance of coordinator Brandon Staley. If New Orleans uses the No. 8 pick on a versatile defensive back like Ohio State’s Caleb Downs—a player Staley could use similarly to Derwin James Jr.—it doesn’t directly threaten Jordan’s snap count . However, if the Saints use their second or third-round pick on an edge rusher to pair with Chase Young and Carl Granderson, Jordan would likely fall to fourth in the rotation.
“You gotta be able to take your emotions out of it. Of course, I’d love to be in New Orleans, but at the same time, if the cents doesn’t make sense, then we have to find our own path,” Jordan said recently .
The Saints are reportedly comfortable bringing Jordan back on a reasonable one-year deal, perhaps in the range of $7 million, but only if the fit is right . If a young pass rusher falls to New Orleans in the draft, that offer might be withdrawn.
Projecting the Picks: The Tipping Point
The Saints hold the No. 8 overall selection. How they use it will set the dominoes falling for the rest of the roster.
Scenario A: The “Run It Back” Offense
If the Saints draft a wide receiver—perhaps Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, assuming he is available—they are prioritizing giving quarterback Tyler Shough a true No. 2 option opposite Chris Olave . In this scenario, the skill positions are set. The Saints would likely keep Kamara to pair with Etienne, using the veteran’s contract as a one-year “all-in” on offense. Jordan could return on a cheap deal to provide leadership for a defense that otherwise lacks veteran edge presence.
Scenario B: The Youth Movement
If the Saints draft Ohio State safety/LB hybrid Sonny Styles or an edge rusher early, the defense gets younger and cheaper immediately . This allows the Saints to move on from Jordan entirely, saving the roster spot and cap space for a player who fits the 2028 timeline rather than the 2018 timeline.
Scenario C: The Running Back Shuffle
While less likely at pick No. 8, if the Saints traded back and acquired a back like Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) or a similar talent—should they declare—it would be the death knell for Kamara’s tenure in New Orleans. You do not pay Etienne $12 million and draft a back in the top 50 picks while keeping a $10 million Kamara.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 season is a transition year for the Saints. Tyler Shough showed flashes late last season, but this is no longer Sean Payton’s win-now machine. It is Kellen Moore’s laboratory.
For Alvin Kamara, the draft will determine if he is a luxury the Saints feel they can afford or an asset they need to flip for future picks. For Cam Jordan, it will determine if there is a role for him in a rotation that is trying to get younger, or if his future lies in a different jersey chasing that elusive 10-sack season.
The answers will begin to unfold Thursday night in Pittsburgh. As Loomis noted, the draft doesn’t just build the future; it clarifies the present. By Saturday evening, New Orleans may have said goodbye to two of its greatest sons—or recommitted to them for one final ride.
