Should the Bears Evaluate Alvin Kamara?
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara took a trip to Chicago this weekend to Wrigleyville. The star running back would throw the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game, circulating rumors about why he made a trip to the Windy City. The Chicago Bears have been at the center of talks when it comes to running back additions, with uncertainty as to whether or not D’Andre Swift will remain as the starter. The Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson has shown he values strong rushing attacks with good depth at the position, so should he be taking a look at Kamara?
Kamara rushed 950 yards in 2024, becoming the most rushing yards in his eight-year career. He also signed a two-year, $23.5 million extension with the Saints in 2024. The five-time Pro Bowler has become a huge weapon in New Orleans, but with a history of injuries and about to turn 30 years old, a potential trade could be on the table. While nothing is confirmed, the dual threat Kamara possesses is one of Ben Johnson’s favorite offensive schemes. The duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs became a staple of the Detroit Lions’ offense. Therefore, Johnson's wanting to create a similar scenario with Kamara and Swift could be an intriguing option.
While the coincidence of Kamara in Chicago is worth noting, a potential future between the two will be a difficult one to achieve. Firstly, it would take some cap space for the Bears to figure out. With his new contract, Kamara has a cap hit of $10 million next season and $18.6 million the following year. Chicago has notoriously not been known to be a huge spender, and with an aging running back, it may not be the time to change that. Another issue comes as to what the Bears would need to give up in a trade to acquire Kamara. The asking price would need to be respectable considering the new contract and Kamara’s consistent production, which could mean even trading Swift so the Saints don’t lose their rushing attack completely. The idea of Kamara and the Bears is one worth keeping an eye on, as Chicago will continue to plan out their running attack for the future under Ben Johnson.
