KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs. That sentence still feels strange to type. Andy Reid’s squad limped to a shocking 6-11 finish in 2025, snapping a decade-long postseason streak that defined an era. To make matters infinitely worse, Patrick Mahomes suffered a devastating ACL and LCL tear in Week 15 against the Chargers. Now, general manager Brett Veach is scrambling to retool an offense that sputtered and stalled all winter.
According to Bleacher Report NFL analyst Kristopher Knox, the Chiefs might find their offensive life raft in the Big Easy. Knox predicts Kansas City could land five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara for pennies on the dollar—specifically a sixth- and seventh-round pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
A Bargain Bin Lifeline for a Battered Offense
You could feel the panic settle over Arrowhead Stadium the moment Mahomes grabbed his left knee back in December. The dynasty suddenly looked mortal. The Chiefs’ backfield offered zero relief, struggling to find a rhythm as Isiah Pacheco battled inconsistency ahead of his impending free agency. The biting cold at GEHA Field felt a little harsher as fans realized the season was effectively over.
Enter Kamara. The 30-year-old veteran boasts 7,250 rushing yards and 61 touchdowns, plus another 4,948 yards and 25 scores through the air. He is a dual-threat weapon who thrives in the exact type of screen-heavy, quick-release offense Reid relies on when his quarterback is under duress.
The New Orleans Saints are entering a hard reset. They are projected to be a staggering $41.8 million over the salary cap. Building around second-year quarterback Tyler Shough means clearing the books, and shipping Kamara off saves New Orleans up to $11.5 million if designated a post-June 1 trade.
“I’m fired up to get into this offseason and get going. We didn’t do very well this past year and that hasn’t been our M.O. there. I’m going to fix the problem, the problems that we had in all phases. This isn’t just an offense, all phases.”
— Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach
“Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again… I Will be back stronger than ever.”
— Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Acquiring Kamara is not a plug-and-play guarantee. The veteran back suffered a sprained MCL down the stretch of the 2025 season. He even threatened retirement last fall when his name surfaced at the trade deadline. The Saints will need to convince him that chasing another ring in Kansas City is worth extending his physical toll in the league.
Veach also faces aggressive competition within his own division. The Denver Broncos desperately need a backfield companion for RJ Harvey. Sean Payton drafted Kamara and coached him through his most explosive years in New Orleans. If a bidding war erupts, Denver might gladly surrender a day-three draft pick to reunite the pair.
But desperation breeds bold moves in Kansas City. Mahomes is aiming for a miraculous Week 1 return, but rushing a franchise quarterback back from a multi-ligament tear is a massive gamble. The Chiefs need a reliable, veteran safety valve in the backfield to take the pressure off whoever lines up under center. If Kamara still has gas in the tank, a pair of late-round picks is a microscopic price to pay to keep the AFC West crown within reach.