2026 draft implications for Saints and Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan

Much of the attention on the 2026 NFL Draft will rightfully go to the rookie players hearing their names called from the podium, but they aren't the only ones impacted by learning where they'll go. Veterans like New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and free agent defensive end Cameron Jordan are also going to change their outlook over the long weekend. And that's something Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is very mindful of.

It was one topic that came up briefly during his pre-draft press conference . "Yeah, I think that it could impact it," Loomis acknowledged, when asked if the team's upcoming moves could change things for "unsettled" vets like Kamara or Jordan. "We'll see what happens.

And that goes both ways. That may impact them from their perspective as well as ours. " Now what does Loomis mean by that?

Let's start with Jordan. He's spoken before about wanting to feel valued by whichever team he's playing for in 2026, whether that's the Saints or someone else, and that goes beyond his contract. Jordan wants opportunities to rush the quarterback and pad out his sacks numbers, giving him an opportunity to climb that leaderboard and help his chances for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.