The Saints, known for their contract restructurings, have not made any changes to Alvin Kamara’s contract this offseason. While the team has previously used his deal for cap savings, the structure of the Pro Bowl running back’s contract indicates that 2024 will likely be considered his contract year.
Kamara’s extension, a five-year, $75 million deal, runs through 2025, but the 2025 season includes a non-guaranteed $22.4 million base salary that is unlikely to be paid. This situation caused some tension on Thursday as Kamara left the Saints’ facility before minicamp practice due to a contract issue, as reported by NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill and confirmed by NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Discussions about the contract have been ongoing this offseason, but no progress has been made towards a resolution. According to Underhill, the eight-year veteran is seeking an extension. Kamara, who will be 29 next month, is set to earn a $10.2 million base salary for the 2024 season.
In a time where running back value has been declining, Kamara stands out as one of the top earners. He secured a $15 million per year deal just before the 2020 season, matching Ezekiel Elliott’s contract for second-highest per-year value among running backs, behind Christian McCaffrey. While the running back landscape has shifted since then, Kamara’s contract remains one of the highest in terms of average annual value.
The future of Kamara’s contract with the Saints remains uncertain, with the possibility of the team shedding it from their payroll in 2025. Despite some recent struggles on the field, Kamara still faces fines for missing workouts and will need to focus on training camp moving forward.