Alvin Kamara has been the face of the New Orleans Saints for nearly a decade, and at 1-4 he is also the obvious first name on any sell list. The Saints managed 142 total yards Sunday as Kellen Moore’s offense went ice cold in a 23-13 loss to Minnesota.
“You have to stick together through these types of storms. We have to get better,” Moore said after the Vikings game. The NFL’s trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET, and New Orleans sits at No. 6 in the 2027 NFL Draft order. The catch is money. The Saints have about $5.9 million in 2026 cap space, per Over the Cap, and nearly every veteran deal on the roster has been restructured, so any trade drags future bonus money onto this year’s books.
Alvin Kamara, RB
Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
Kamara, 31, agreed to a reworked one-year deal in July with a $6 million base salary and a contract that voids in 2027. “His goal is to remain with the Saints,” agent Bradley Cicala told The Associated Press at the time. Through four games, he has 28 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns plus 13 catches for 41 yards.
He played only 12 snaps against Minnesota, two fewer than Kendre Miller, per the Saints’ Week 5 snap counts. Travis Etienne Jr., signed to a four-year, $52 million deal in March, went on injured reserve with a hamstring Oct. 1 and could return before the deadline. A contender would owe only the rest of his salary, and a late-round pick feels like the ceiling.
Juwan Johnson, TE
Johnson leads the Saints’ tight ends with 25 catches on 32 targets for 248 yards and three touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference. Noah Fant’s return already cut his snap share from 78% against Atlanta to 64% against Minnesota, and Oscar Delp is also in the rotation.
The 30-year-old’s 2027 cap number jumps to $15.1 million with no guaranteed salary, which makes him a natural sell-high piece. The problem is the bill. Over the Cap projects more than $21 million in 2026 dead money in a trade, so New Orleans would need to clear room first. A mid-round pick is a fair ask.
Pete Werner, LB
Werner has 35 tackles and a sack in five games and played every defensive snap against the Vikings with Kaden Elliss out. Danny Stutsman has started twice and logged 86% of the snaps Sunday, which gives the Saints a younger answer next to Elliss.
His 2026 cap number is $3.9 million, but 2027 carries a $6.5 million base salary with nothing guaranteed. Linebacker-needy contenders pay in Day 3 picks, and a fifth-rounder would be a reasonable return for a 27-year-old starter.
Cameron Jordan, DE
Jordan, 37, announced 2026 would be his last season and has 132 career sacks, including 10.5 last year. This season he has no sacks and eight tackles in four games with one start. His one-year, $7.5 million deal includes up to $3.5 million in sack incentives.
“We’re 1-4. That is not good. No, it’s awful,” Jordan said after Sunday’s loss. He also said in June, “This is where I wanted to be, and (I) got back here,” in a return that keeps his career in one city. A trade would happen only if Jordan wants a final playoff run, and the return would be a late-round pick from a legitimate contender at most.
The Saints visit the Giants on Sunday, and four more weeks like the first five would make the Nov. 10 decisions easy. Moving Kamara and Werner is realistic. Moving Johnson or Jordan depends on how badly New Orleans wants to start over.
