New Orleans Saints at a Crossroads with Alvin Kamara
New Orleans, La. -- The New Orleans Saints find themselves at a pivotal juncture with their star running back, Alvin Kamara. The uncertainty surrounding Kamara's status intensified after he skipped the final practice of minicamp last week, a move attributed to contract-related issues by his agent, Brad Cicala.
Kamara's irregular attendance is not new. He did not attend OTAs this offseason but made his return for the mandatory minicamp, as he has done in previous years. Last year, Kamara expressed his desire to remain with the Saints for the long term. As the team looks ahead to the 2024 season, Kamara is expected to be a focal point of the offense under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Kamara's Proven Track Record
Kamara has thrived in the Saints' offensive schemes, posting impressive statistics over his career. He caught at least 80 passes in each of his first four seasons and scored double-digit touchdowns in 2017, 2018, and 2020. His versatility and production have made him a key element of the Saints' offensive strategy.
Comparison with Christian McCaffrey
One name that frequently comes up in discussions about elite NFL running backs is Christian McCaffrey. Kubiak, who served as the San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator last season, witnessed McCaffrey rush for a career-high 1,459 yards. The 28-year-old McCaffrey, a first-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2017, received a two-year extension in June that will pay him an average of $19 million and guarantee him $24 million.
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 yards after that age. Rushing attempts also peak at age 27, while rushing average peaks between ages 24-26.
Factors Affecting Kamara's Performance
Several external factors contributed to Kamara's statistical decline last season. 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.
Financial implications compound the situation. 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. This move would lower his cap number for the current year while increasing it in future years.
Financial Implications and Future Outlook
If the Saints chose 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.
With about a month before the team reports to training camp in Irvine, California, the Saints are mindful of Kamara's past behavior—he missed five practices at the end of the 2020 offseason before receiving a new contract. Currently, Kamara is signed through the 2025 season.
Quotes
Head Coach Dennis Allen remarked, "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." Kamara's own words from last year still resonate: "I want a lifetime contract. I want to be here forever."
Kamara has expressed optimism about Kubiak's offensive scheme, stating, "You look at the history of this offense, I'll just say it's good for the running back." The running back also drew comparisons to McCaffrey, "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 stressed his focus is not on statistics, "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...whatever's asked of me, I just do that."
Quarterback Derek Carr shared an impression from minicamp: "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 added, "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."
The Saints' front office and coaching staff will closely monitor Kamara's situation as they prepare for the upcoming season, hopeful that their star running back remains a key figure in their offensive plans.