The Saints have signed five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara to a two-year, $24.5MM contract extension, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Kamara was under contract through the 2025 season, but his new deal will keep him in New Orleans until at least 2026. More than $22MM of his new money is effectively fully-guaranteed, according to Garafolo, though Kamara’s per-year average dropped from $15MM to $12.75MM on his second extension with the Saints.
Kamara made his desire for an extension clear over the summer when he left mandatory minicamp a day early, though he reported to training camp on time. He continued to negotiate with the Saints as the season approached, but the two sides appeared to be at an impasse in September, indicating that extension talks would continue in the offseason. The veteran running back even became the subject of trade rumors with New Orleans losing five straight games after opening the season 2-0.
Kamara’s extension will take him out of the trade market and solidify him as the Saints’ long-term running back, even as the team faces massive cap obstacles in the next few seasons. While other players like Marshon Lattimore may become too expensive to retain, New Orleans furthered their commitment to Kamara as the most proven and productive player on their offense.
The veteran running back was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft and received Pro Bowl nods in each of his first four seasons. That earned him a five-year, $75MM extension in 2020 that established Kamara as the second-highest-paid running back in the league behind Christian McCaffrey. Kamara’s new APY will drop him to third behind Jonathan Taylor, though he remains ahead of Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs.
Kamara’s extension is somewhat of a surprise after negotiations with the Saints appeared to fizzle during the preseason with both sides focusing on the 2024 season ahead of them. But Kamara has been New Orleans’ most consistent offensive player this year as several other playmakers – including quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Rasheed Shaheed – have dealt with injuries behind a rotating offensive line. Kamara’s 145 touches lead the league, and he is averaging one touchdown and just under 100 yards from scrimmage per game.
More to come.