New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer and former offensive tackle Stan Brock recently spoke with Arizona Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard in an exclusive one-on-one interview for Action Network, where he talked about some of the most significant story lines in the Big Easy with training camp one week away.
Brock believes confidence will be a major factor in Alvin Kamara’s 2026 season following the Saints making the splash signing of running back Travis Etienne Jr this offseason in free agency. He said today’s
NFL creates unique challenges for veteran players as teams increasingly turn to free agency and trades to bolster their rosters.
“It’s different now than when I played,” Brock said. “There was no free agency, so there wasn’t a big problem because they weren’t bringing in free agents to replace you. Just with a draft pick. Now, the mentality is different, and guys start feeling that. I’m not as needed and I’m not as wanted as I once was. And anything that chips away at your confidence hurts your performance.”
Brock said Kamara could begin feeling isolated if he believes the organization is questioning his abilities, particularly after adding another accomplished running back to the backfield that is known for playing in a similar manner to what Kamara was once known for.
“If they start questioning what he can do, whether it’s catching the ball out of the backfield, getting outside, it’s going to chip away at his confidence,” Brock said. “That makes it a lot harder to go out there and give it everything you’ve got for that group.”
The former Saints offensive tackle also acknowledged that if the relationship between Kamara and the organization deteriorates, a split could ultimately be the best outcome.
“Sometimes it’s easier to go find somebody who wants you,” Brock said. “Hopefully, just out of respect for him, I hope they treat him right.”
Brock also emphasized the importance of Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy remaining healthy, calling stability along the interior of the offensive line essential for the Saints’ offense to succeed.
“When you’re playing with a backup center that’s not quite as good, or if we moved this guy from guard to learn how to play center, there are a lot of questions,” Brock said. “What’s going to happen? (As a quarterback), you can’t be trying to take care of another position when you’re trying to do your job. He can’t be worried about the offensive line. He needs to stay focused.”
With uncertainty surrounding Kamara’s role and the Saints counting on protecting their young quarterback this season, Brock believes both player confidence and offensive line continuity will be key factors in determining how successful New Orleans can be in 2026.
