RB Alvin Kamara agrees to two-year, $24.5 million contract extension with Saints Oct 22, 2024
Alvin Kamara’s offseason contract squabbles are being put to rest.
Kamara and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a two-year, $24.5 million extension which will put him under contract through the 2026 season, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday, per sources.
Garafolo adds that the deal includes over $22 million guaranteed and the $1.5 million in incentives makes it worth up to $26 million.
The Saints will save roughly $18 million on the 2025 salary cap with Kamara’s new deal in place, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported.
Amid an offseason where Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley cashed in with market-setting deals, Kamara let it be known during the 2024 offseason he’d like to be compensated at the going rate for elite NFL running backs.
The five-time Pro Bowler staged an early exit from mandatory minicamp to show his displeasure, but didn’t go so far as orchestrating a holdout during training camp despite a new deal not coming to fruition.
The former third-round pick also declared his long-term intentions with the Saints.
“I want to be a Saint. I want to retire here,” Kamara said on July 24, adding that he was going to play even without the new deal he was seeking.
Kamara put aside his frustrations and began the 2024 campaign by proving his worth. The Saints RB gained 290 scrimmage yards (198 rushing, 92 receiving) and scored five touchdowns during New Orleans’ scorching 2-0 start, setting the table for a potential big-time pay day in 2025.
Instead, the Saints recognized Kamara’s value seven weeks into the season and will now have NOLA’s fan favorite in black and gold through 2026.
The Saints have since cooled off drastically since that 2-0 start, dropping the past five straight games while quarterback Derek Carr nurses an oblique injury. Kamara has totaled 690 scrimmage yards and seven TDs through Week 7.
Kamara, who’s just 233 yards shy of becoming the Saints’ all-time leading rusher, got into his desired pay grade earlier than expected. It will also bolster his desire to keep his entire NFL career in New Orleans.
