JACKSON: Kamara extension a win for Saints present and future

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — Big news came across the wire on Tuesday evening when the New Orleans Saints finally got their extension done with running back Alvin Kamara. The extension is a two-year deal that gives Kamara additional guarantees and more clarity for his future through 2026. While it is clear that this move was much deserved for the star running back, there are ripple effects to the agreement that are important as well.

One big takeaway is that the Saints clearly do not see themselves as sellers this season, despite their five-game skid. Kamara’s contract was a valuable trade piece that could have net the team some additional draft capital if they decided to turn their attention to the future. But that wouldn’t have been right by Kamara, who has shown nothing but dedication to the team while working to get the extension he wanted.

New Orleans now eliminates the options of selling and instead embarks on the rest of the 2024 season trying to compete as the team gets healthier. Whether or not that works, we will see by season’s end.

The other piece of clarity this move provides is how the Saints view their future at running back. As second-year running back Kendre Miller made his 2024 debut last week, he ran six times for 36 rushing yards. That 6.0 yard per carry average is the highest average by any Saints running back, Kamara included, all season.

Many looked at Miller as the potential future of the Saints’ rushing attack. And while that could be true, provided he stays healthy, the more immediate future looks to be more about the tandem and Kamara and Miller.

Veteran running back Jamaal Williams has had a curious tenure with the Saints since he arrived in New Orleans. The 2022 rushing touchdowns leader scored just one touchdown last year, and quite a controversial one at that. He started off strong this season, scoring his first touchdown Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, but has seen his snap counts wane since then.

Williams played only three snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 despite being the team’s most reliable pass protector in the backfield. His count went back up against the Broncos where he saw 12 snaps. But compared to Miller, who saw 20 in total, it’s clear how the Saints want their running back room to shake out.

Williams, far from someone who will ever complain about his role, may be passed up by Miller sooner rather than later. With Miller drafted in 2023, his rookie deal is set to expire at the same time as Kamara’s new deal in 2026. New Orleans will likely use this, and the next few years, to try to build offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s rushing attack around these two backs. For as long as they’re all together, of course.

The idea makes sense. Kamara is outstanding in space both as a rusher and receiver. However, yards before contact are important to his game. Therefore a healthy offensive line is a must. Miller spent most of collegiate career at TCU mastering the inside zone game. 

The zone run princples are similar whether inside or outside. Blockers are assigned to an area of the field as opposed to a certain defender. However, the point of attack the rusher is built to threaten differs. On inside zone runs, the rusher attacks interior gaps while on outside zone, the ball carrier tries to win at the perimeter.

This could allow both Miller and Kamara to be more complementary pieces in the team’s run game. They will have to be able to overlap, do a little of each other’s work, but having harmonious focuses could go a long way. 

The Saints have run the ball outside the tackles 69.2 percent of their rushes this season, which is second in the NFL. Meanwhile, they’ve rushed inside just 28.2 percent of the team, second-fewest in the league. Having more versatile attack points in the run may end up benefiting them in the long game.

This contract extension for Kamara does not jeopardize Miller’s chances of becoming a key contributor to the team. In fact, it just bolsters it by giving him a running mate and runway to start to build his impact. That’s something both Miller and the Saints want from the back–impact.

This Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, that process begins as Miller gets back in action, Kamara has a clear commitment from the team and the offensive line finally gets starters back.