The issues facing the Kansas City Chiefs' rushing attack have been well-documented through three games. Isiah Pacheco has been unable to produce at the level he did before fracturing his fibula in Week 2 of the 2024 campaign, and Kareem Hunt looks like a rusher who is on the wrong side of 30 years old.
This has only made life more difficult for All-Pro QB Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs' offense. With Rashee Rice still sidelined due to a suspension, and Xavier Worthy essentially missing the entire regular season thus far after dislocating his shoulder following a collision with Travis Kelce, it has been a struggle to move the ball at times for the defending AFC champions. This is a big reason why they enter Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a 1-2 record.
There appears to be an answer out there, though, if the Chiefs can get the right trade offer presented to the New Orleans Saints. Alvin Kamara looks to be losing his role as a featured back in New Orleans, despite setting a career-high for rushing yards in a single season during the 2024 campaign, with the emergence of 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara Needs KC to Save Him from Being Neglected
They were subtle decisions made by Kellen Moore and the offensive coaching staff in New Orleans, but Kamara's usage in a game against the Buffalo Bills that remained competitive into the fourth quarter is worth noticing.
The veteran carried the ball 15 times in the 31-19 victory, compared to Miller's 11 carries. Kamara did not get looks in the red zone or on a two-point conversion attempt despite having 86 touchdowns over his career and being tied with Marshall Faulk for the most two-point conversions in NFL history.
Perhaps the biggest indicator that Kamara isn't the unquestioned lead back in New Orleans in the eyes of the new coaching staff was the decision to run a "Philly Special" inside the five-yard line rather than feeding Kamara the ball. Naturally, that decision led to a turnover and the Saints getting no points on the board.
These decisions were not lost on at least a portion of Kansas City's fan base. Chiefs supporters are already flocking to social media to call for the AFC powerhouse to make a trade to save the likely future Hall of Famer from a terrible situation in New Orleans.
Entering Week 4, Kamara had an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 61.2, which ranked him 34th among 48 eligible running backs. His 186 rushing yards, however, placed him at No. 14 in the NFL. This isn't a situation where a big name is simply floundering away on a bad team. Kamara can still move the ball with the best of them on the ground and would greatly benefit from moving from one of the worst situations in the NFL in New Orleans to a franchise with the success record that Kansas City has.