By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – Week 1 marks the return of the NFL regular season, but also marks an oft-used deadline for contract extensions. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (requires ESPN+), that will be the case between the New Orleans Saints and star running back Alvin Kamara.
Per Fowler’s report, the team and Kamara “will not be reaching a new contract by Week 1.” Kamara alluded that this may be the case during his media availability earlier this week.
“I’m kind of at the point where I’m not even talking about it until after the season,” Kamara said. “Like I don’t want to talk about it.”
The concern around Kamara’s deal is more-so connected to his 2025 deal than this year’s. He carries a huge cap hit of more than $29 million which includes a base salary of $22.4 million. That salary has no guarantees included. That effectively means that the running back is in the final year of his deal.
While new money is not necessarily a part of the conversation for Kamara, future commitment certainly is. If negotiations are indeed shut down between him and the team for now, they could come back to the negotiation table after the season. In that case, Kamara’s 2024 should carry large implications.
With the Saints’ new offensive system ready to debut on Sunday, the run-heavy scheme could elevate Kamara’s leverage in the conversations. However, an injury or lack of production would severely limit his negotiating power.
The former offensive rookie of the year now has a very consequential season ahead of him. What was one of the team’s lingering questions from the offseason now turns into a season-long plot that will either mark the end of an era or earn Kamara his aspiration to finish his career where it started in the Big Easy.
