Why The New Orleans Saints Should Trade Mark Ingram

by
Former Writers
October 2, 2018

scottclause.com via Flickr

The New Orleans Saints Should Trade Mark Ingram

Approaching Week 5 of the 2018 NFL season, many NFL stars are returning to their team to provide a vital boost. Returning stars include New England Patriots wideout Julian Edelman, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith, and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. However, another returning star may not exactly make his team better.

Players scheduled to return Monday after serving four-game suspensions:

Patriots’ WR Julian Edelman Saints’ RB Mark Ingram
Ravens’ CB Jimmy Smith Bengals’ LB Vontaze Burfict Chargers’ DT Corey Liuget

Panthers’ LB Thomas Davis still must sit one more game with Carolina on bye.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 1, 2018

Former Heisman winner Mark Ingram returns to a backfield that may be better off without him. Explosive second-year back Alvin Kamara is having an incredible 2018 season. Kamara currently leads the league in yards from scrimmage (611) and total touchdowns (six). One may retort that veteran Mark Ingram had a career year in 2017, piling on 1,540 total yards and 12 touchdowns. So why should the Saints trade him?

Too Many Mouths To Feed

Mark Ingram returning to the Saints backfield wouldn’t only be taking touches from star running back Alvin Kamara. Budding wide receiver Michael Thomas currently leads the league in catches with 44. Thomas is also fourth in receiving yards this season.

Rotating a rusty Mark Ingram back into the backfield would come at the expense from taking touches away from two special players. There is no doubt that Mark Ingram can help this Saints team. On the other hand, introducing Ingram back into the rotation means fewer touches for Kamara.

Mark Ingram back next week. But Alvin Kamara's current 16-game pace is 1110 rushing yards, 140 catches, 1344 receiving yards, 24 total TDs.

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 1, 2018

The 2018 New Orleans Saints are as explosive of a team offensively as they’ve ever been. New Orleans currently ranks third in points-per-game as well as fourth in yards-per-game. While coach Sean Payton is optimistic now that Ingram is back, it is understood that rotating Ingram in the backfield won’t be easy.

Sean Payton said "we'll figure out the balance" between Ingram and Kamara. "It'll be good for us offensively to have (Ingram) back."

— Luke Johnson (@ByLukeJohnson) October 2, 2018

Mark Ingram is an incredible football player—it’s important to make sure that doesn’t get lost here. Furthermore, Ingram’s role with the Saints currently may not be worth keeping him. While the New Orleans Saints have improved defensively, Ingram could be moved for more defensive help.

Meanwhile, Ingram will have to adjust to the Saints lineup as they prepare for a Monday Night face off against the Washington Redskins.