This Chiefs, Saints Trade Makes Perfect Sense For Both Sides
The 0-2 Kansas City Chiefs could use another playmaker and could target running back Alvin Kamara in a trade. A third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Kamara used to be one of the game’s elite players and arguably the best running back in football. While the five-time Pro Bowler has lost a step since his peak days, he remains a productive starter. Through two games, Kamara has recorded 144 rushing yards and one touchdown on 32 carries (4.5 yards per attempt) while adding another eight receptions for 33 yards through the air.
He’s still a good player, but the 30-year-old back is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning and probably will be past his prime by the time New Orleans is ready to compete. With this in mind, could the Saints trade Alvin Kamara to a desperate team like the Chiefs?
Saints, Chiefs Could Agree to Alvin Kamara Trade
While the Saints and Chiefs have identical 0-2 records, Kansas City has a much better chance of making the playoffs than New Orleans. While second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has played well through two games, the roster is still too weak to make a serious push at the postseason. The Saints spent years kicking the can down the road after Drew Brees retired, and now the bill has finally come due. This team should focus on adding young talent, and Kamara’s trade value will only plummet as the season progresses.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are still in the midst of their Super Bowl window. This team will always have a chance as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center, and the passing attack should improve once Rashee Rice and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy return to the field. The only question is whether or not the team can make up their lost ground in a competitive AFC West. The Chargers are currently two games up on the Chiefs, and the 1-1 Raiders and Broncos also own better records. All four teams in the division have a decent shot of making the playoffs, so Kansas City can’t afford to wait around for their star receivers to return. They need someone to improve on Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, and an Alvin Kamara trade would be exactly what this team needs.
Trade Terms
Trading for Alvin Kamara shouldn’t be too difficult from a financial standpoint. Acquiring him now would cost Kansas City just under $3 million, and while he carries a decent cap hit in 2026, they’ll only owe him $3 million if they release him before the start of the season.
Given his age, contract status, and the relative unimportance of the running back position, it’s hard to envision the Chiefs giving up anything more than a late-round pick in an Alvin Kamara trade. While you can’t have too many draft picks, New Orleans might not want to send away one of their most reliable playmakers for such a small return. This team needs Spencer Rattler or second-round pick Tyler Shough to become a franchise quarterback, and if they think Kamara can help their young passers develop, then they won’t trade him.
Yankees Legend Shares Major Playoff Concern
The New York Yankees are on a roll heading into the playoffs with a three-game winning streak while now owning the second-best record in the American League at 86-67.
The club is three games up on the Houston Astros for the top Wild Card spot, meaning they'll likely host a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium to open the postseason since they're exceedingly unlikely to catch the Toronto Blue Jays at the top of the AL East.
Even when taking their recent success into account, however, legendary Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry shared some concerns about whether or not the team's offense is going to put runs up on the scoreboard if they aren't hitting home runs in October.
“Let’s say you’re facing (the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal), he’s not going to give up five home runs,” Guidry told NJ.com's Bob Klapisch. “That’s when you have to learn how to capitalize on a leadoff double, or a walk and a steal, because one or two runs is all you’re going to get.
“When (the Yankees) hit home runs, they’re tough, no question. I’ve seen them score 10 runs in a game lots of times. But I’ve also seen them not score the next night.
“That’s when you have to manufacture runs. And let’s face it, they’re not the best team at doing that.”
The Yankees are the league's most prolific team from a run-scoring perspective, ranking No. 1 with 801. Their propensity for the long ball has, of course, played a huge role in their success in that facet of the game, as they've hit the most homers with 258, but Guidry's questions about the offense's sustainability in the playoffs may have some merit.
New York's lineup is also up there in terms of the most talented around the league, especially in the AL, but the ball may not travel as far once the weather starts to cool down in October.
The Yankees currently rank No. 12 across all of MLB in batting average at .250, and they come in at No. 9 in terms of average with runners in scoring position at .253. Those numbers, coupled with an on-base percentage that's the third-best in the league at .331, should help the club continue to push runs across the plate at a high rate in the playoffs, but will it be enough if their power dissipates just a bit against better pitching?
