The Saints aren’t letting running back Alvin Kamara slip away.
On Tuesday, NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported Kamara and New Orleans agreed on a two-year, $24.5M extension to keep the running back in New Orleans through the 2026 season.
Insider Tom Pelissero noted with his extension, the Saints shaved $18M off their 2025 salary, which is huge for a team that Over The Cap projected to be $82.4M over the expected 2025 salary cap entering Tuesday.
This season, Kamara has 111 carries for 438 yards, 34 receptions for 252 yards and seven total touchdowns. His 145 touches lead the league.
The five-time Pro Bowler is indispensable to New Orleans’ offense, and his contract shuts down any thought of the Saints trading him this season.
New Orleans (2-5) has lost five in a row after a 2-0 start, prompting some to speculate the front office could become sellers at the trade deadline on Nov. 5.
Kamara spoke out against a rumor that surfaced over the weekend that he had requested a trade and professed a desire to play his entire career with the Saints during the offseason.
His loyalty was rewarded in an industry where that rarely exists.
Kamara’s extension might indicate that the Saints don’t intend to give up on the 2024 season despite their current awful stretch.
They received a bit of good luck in Week 7 with the entire NFC South going winless, meaning they didn’t lose ground to the Falcons (4-3) and Buccaneers (4-3) in the standings.
Saints reporter Nick Underhill shared on Tuesday that New Orleans could also soon welcome back multiple key players who have missed time this season, including offensive playmaker Taysom Hill (rib), wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion), guards Cesar Ruiz (knee) and Lucas Patrick (chest) and linebacker Pete Werner (hamstring).
Whether the Saints rediscover their early-season form or not, Kamara will be along for the ride.
