Alvin Kamara Welcomes Travis Etienne to Saints: 'I Couldn't Be Happier'

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara shared his enthusiasm for the team’s recent signing of Jacksonville Jaguars star Travis Etienne during an interview on Terron Armstead’s podcast The Set.

While Kamara did not explicitly discuss his future plans, his comments strongly suggest he intends to remain with the Saints for the 2024 season. The team recently signed Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract in free agency.

“I think a lot of people be thinking there’s a beef or something when moves like this happen. It's like, shoot, I couldn’t be happier. One, my boy got paid, and two, ain't nothing but some help in the backfield. That's the name of the game. One person can't do it by themselves. I’m cool with it. Whichever direction that we can take it, I'm with it. I haven't had too much a chance to talk to him, but definitely excited that he's got a fleur-de-lis on his helmet, and he got paid.”

The Saints recently adjusted Kamara’s contract to allow for a potential trade or release after June 1, fueling speculation about his future. As of now, Kamara remains on the roster and is set to count $10.45 million against the 2024 salary cap.

Reports indicate Kamara may need to accept a pay cut to stay with the Saints, the team that drafted him in 2017. However, his remarks suggest he is eager to remain in New Orleans for a 10th season.

“I watched Etienne in Jacksonville and I'm excited to see what we can do together,” Kamara said. He also reflected on his former backfield partner Mark Ingram, with whom he formed a dominant duo for four seasons. In 2017-18, Kamara and Ingram combined for 3,380 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns.

“I think that's what we trying to find. Me and Mark set the bar very high. That's what efficiency looks like on a very high level. I'm 100 percent for it. If that's what direction we're going in, I'm with it. I think we can get there.”