The Saints and RB Alvin Kamara were unable to reach a long-term deal despite negotiating the entire offseason and all the way until the start of the season, per Ian Rapoport.
However, Kamara’s scintillating start to the season has put him in an excellent position for when contract talks resume. Right now the two sides have tabled talks until after the season.
Rapoport says the Saints tried to be proactive about signing Kamara to a new deal this offseason, and came close a couple of times. However, contracts for Eagles RB Saquon Barkley and 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey ultimately proved to be barometers the Saints didn’t want to match.
Kamara wanted a market-rate contract with real guarantees, per Rapoport, as while he was under contract for this year and next, his 2025 salary was not guaranteed.
Kamara is set to carry a cap figure of over $29 million in 2025 with a non-guaranteed base salary of $22.4 million, but Rapoport says the Saints and Kamara both understand he’s not expected to see that money.
Kamara, 29, is a former third-round pick of the Saints back in 2017 out of Tennessee. Kamara was in the final year of his rookie contract when he agreed to a five-year extension worth $77.133 million.
He agreed to a restructured contract last offseason and is set to make a base salary of $10.2 million in 2024.
In 2023, Kamara appeared in 13 games and recorded 180 rushing attempts for 694 yards (3.9 YPC) and five touchdowns, to go along with 75 receptions for 466 yards (6.2 YPC) and one touchdown.
We’ll have more on Kamara and the Saints as the news is available.
