Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
It’s been an eventful few days in New Orleans for the Saints, particularly at running back. In a four-day period, the Saints have pulled off a couple of moves that are now generating a lot of questions around the future of their long-time top running back Alvin Kamara.
On Friday, March 6, the Saints reworked Kamara’s contract. But instead of doing so using a typical restructure, the club pulled off a remarkable and detailed salary conversion that did three things:
- Saved the Saints $8.1 million against the salary cap.
- Didn’t create any additional guaranteed money for Kamara’s future.
- Solidified a smooth financial exit should the Saints and Kamara split.
Point No. 3 was originally seen as a byproduct of the deal. Afterall, there was already a smooth off-ramp even while Kamara was carrying an $11.5 million base salary being that only $3 million was guaranteed. That same amount remains guaranteed even after the reconfiguration of his deal.
Then, on Monday (the first day of the league’s negotiating period), the Saints signed 27-year-old back Travis Etienne, bringing the Jennings, LA native back to his home state.
The addition of the three-time 1,000-yard rusher has only amplified questions about the future of Kamara.
As of now, things are entirely uncertain. But it’s not hard to see why the questions are persistent. The Saints’ saved money on Kamara’s deal without guaranteeing any additional funds and then added a younger back with a similar set of skills. While there’s a lot more nuance than that, as the pairing could just as well be a strong tandem for 2026, the questions are understandable on the surface.
Clarity could come quickly on this matter. After the negotiating period has already paved the way for losses of linebacker Demario Davis and cornerback Alontae Taylor, stomaching another loss in Kamara would be a challenge for the Saints and their fanbase.
However, the Saints are a rebuilding team looking toward its future. With that, present times can unexpectedly become a part of the past.
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