Getty New York Jets safety Ashtyn Davis makes a tackle in 2021.
The Buffalo Bills made some upgrades to their running game last offseason, adding veterans Latavius Murray and Damien Harris while handing a lead role to talented second-year back James Cook.
One insider believes the Bills will take an even bigger swing in 2024, trading for five-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara to add more versatility. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay made some early predictions of where the top running backs will land, speculating that the Bills could trade for the 28-year-old — for a high price.
Bills Take Swing at $75M Back
Kay noted that Kamara is locked into a five-year, $75-million contract with the New Orleans Saints that is set to keep him there through the 2025 season. But Kamara has been the subject of trade rumors over the last few seasons, and Kay predicts that this will be the year the Saints finally pull the trigger on a deal.
Though Kamara has reached a ripe age for a running back, Kay speculated that it would still cost a lot for the Bills to land him.
“While the Saints won’t get a massive return for a 28-year-old running back who relies on his speed to dice up defenses, Kamara could still return a decent haul of draft capital,” Kay predicted. “He’s not been a major force on the ground—putting up 457 yards and two touchdowns on 119 totes across eight games this year—but he’s still a dangerous pass-catcher, securing 54 catches on 61 targets for 355 yards and a score since returning from a three-game suspension in Week 4.”
True or False? ✍️
If he retired today, Alvin Kamara would be a Hall of Famer.
Kay added that Kamara would be a good fit for the Bills, who have fallen to 6-6 this season but are seen as perennial contenders that could be a few tweaks away from a Super Bowl run.
“Any team making a run at Kamara will likely feel its offense is a dynamic back away from contending for a championship,” Kay wrote. “He may no longer be one of the NFL’s most elusive talents, but Kamara can still contribute in a variety of ways and will be a constant scoring threat if he’s utilized correctly by his next team.”
Bills Waiting on Another Veteran Running Back
While the Bills could make a run at Kamara this offseason, they already have one standout running back from the 2017 draft waiting in the wings. The Bills signed veteran back Leonard Fournette to their practice squad in October after Harris was placed on injured reserve, though Fournette has yet to make his season debut.
Bills reporter Maddy Glab wrote on November 17 that head coach Sean McDermott predicted Fournette could see the field soon, but he remained on the practice squad for the following two games.
“Sean McDermott says Leonard Fournette has been a nice addition to the team and continues to learn the offense McDermott says if not this week, then the weeks ahead he will be a ‘big time consideration’ for call up,” Glab wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Bills have instead found contributions from former practice squad running back Ty Johnson, who over the last two games has 12 total touches with 77 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.