New Orleans Saints at a Crossroads with Alvin Kamara
New Orleans, La. -- The New Orleans Saints are at a critical juncture with their star running back, Alvin Kamara. Kamara's status moving forward remains uncertain after skipping the final practice of minicamp last week. According to his agent, Brad Cicala, the early departure was due to contract-related issues.
Despite missing Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this offseason, Kamara made an appearance at the mandatory minicamp, a routine he has followed for several years. Last year, Kamara expressed his desire to remain in New Orleans for the long term. He is expected to be a focal point of the Saints' 2024 offense under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak's Impact and Offensive Strategy
Kamara has thrived in previous Saints offenses, catching at least 80 passes in each of his first four seasons and scoring double-digit touchdowns in 2017, 2018, and 2020. Kubiak, who served as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator last season, saw running back Christian McCaffrey thrive under his system, rushing for a career-high 1,459 yards.
The comparison with McCaffrey is inevitable. The 28-year-old McCaffrey received a two-year extension in June, averaging $19 million with $24 million guaranteed. Kamara, who turns 29 on July 25, is one year older than McCaffrey. According to the Roster Management System, running backs with at least four seasons of 100 rushing attempts peak at age 27 and steadily decline in performance after that age.
Factors Affecting Kamara's Performance
Several external factors contributed to Kamara's statistical decline. He was suspended for the first three games of the 2023 season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Additionally, the Saints struggled with offensive line issues and had trouble scoring in the red zone during the first half of the season.
Kamara's cap number of $18.55 million in 2024 is the highest on the team due to previous contract restructures in 2022 and 2023. A restructure would not provide Kamara with any new money but would temporarily create cap space by converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus, lowering his cap number for the current year while increasing it in future years.
Financial Implications and Future Outlook
If the Saints choose to release Kamara in 2025 without altering his contract, they could save anywhere from $18.9 million to $25 million against the salary cap. However, this number is influenced by Kamara's inflated $22.4 million base salary for 2025, which would likely be addressed if Kamara remains with the team.
The Saints have about a month before they report to training camp in Irvine, California. Notably, Kamara missed five practices at the end of the 2020 offseason before receiving a new contract. He is currently signed through the 2025 season.
Quotes from Key Figures
"I haven't had a chance to talk to him so I'm not sure why he wasn't out here for the rest of practice," said Dennis Allen, head coach of the Saints.
Alvin Kamara himself has made his intentions clear: "I want a lifetime contract. I want to be here forever... You look at the history of this offense, I'll just say it's good for the running back." Kamara added, "You watch some of the past offenses that Klint has been able to operate and most recently, you look at Christian [McCaffrey] and what he was able to do. I'm excited for that."
Kamara has always been modest about his achievements compared to his peers. "I'm not a stat dude. I don't stack myself up against other guys. You talk about Christian and all, me and Christian talk. I enjoy watching him play. I enjoy when he's able to do the things he does. Personally, I enjoy when I'm having success. But I think my message has been the same since I've been here ... whatever's asked of me, I just do that," commented Kamara.
Derek Carr, the Saints' quarterback, had high praise for Kamara's abilities: "There was a play last year where I handed him the ball, and I remember I was like 'Well, that's not open.' ... I turned around and he hit an explosive burst that I've never seen before. And when he showed up [at minicamp], I handed him the ball, and it just feels different."
Klint Kubiak echoed the positive sentiments, "I have talked to him when he was here the last couple of days. He's been great, talked to him on the phone, even when he was gone [for OTAs]. We've been in constant communication."
As the Saints prepare for the upcoming season, the situation with Kamara remains a pivotal storyline to watch. Will the star running back get the long-term contract he desires, or will financial constraints and performance metrics dictate another outcome? Only time will tell.