New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara is a great investment
After signing Adrian Peterson, drafting Alvin Kamara was a weird move for the New Orleans Saints, but the rookie is slowly starting to come into his own.
When the New Orleans Saints signed Adrian Peterson and then drafted Alvin Kamara, a lot of people were scratching their heads. But the Saints do deserve a little bit of credit now. With training camp well underway, Kamara is proving himself as a worthy investment for the Saints.
How many more years does Peterson have left? That time in his life has come and gone so who will be Peterson and Ingram’s replacement? Daniel Lasco hasn’t had a chance to prove himself, but Kamara is slowly making his way there.
Learning behind Ingram and Peterson is huge. Peterson’s one of the best at the game and Ingram knows the offense better. Getting tips and pointers from them is a no-brainer. Kamara is already setting himself up for success. Even if he doesn’t contribute much this season, he’s sure to get some carries in preseason to get himself adjusted to the game later.
His biggest plays to date came during practice on Aug. 5, finding a lane and breaking open a big touchdown run. Resourcefulness in a high-pressure situation is key to become a starter and Kamara is proving he can hold his own.
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The other moment getting people talking is Brees hitting Kamara for a touchdown. Kamara was only a few feet away, but kept his eyes on the ball and the defenders. He was able to sneak past them and score. He’s proving he can work as both a receiver and a running back, a skill set the Saints could use this upcoming season.
The real test for Kamara will come during the upcoming preseason games. It’s unlikely Peterson or Ingram will hit the field, but Kamara and Lasco certainly will. It’s probably going to be a competition to see who is going to be Peterson and Ingram’s backup.
It’s not a glamorous position now, but it could be eventually. Picking Kamara in such a high round didn’t look good at first, but it’s paying off already. The Saints will have a solid backup and a possible franchise player for the future. Kamara also could be looking at becoming the team’s punt returner, third-down back or even a receiver on some plays.
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At age 22, Kamara still has a lot of time to grow and the Saints still have time until they might need him. A confusing move at first, but an investment for later. 2017 could be the year the Saints hit the jackpot with their draft picks and Kamara would be at the top of the list.