Alvin Kamara's contract was the talk of the New Orleans Saints offseason, but it wasn't until Week 8 that we got a resolution.
The Saints and their star running back have agreed to a 2-year extension worth $24.5 million, according to a report from the NFL Network. The contract ties Kamara to the Saints through the 2026 season and includes in the range of $22 million guaranteed.
It's a positive resolution for the team and a play who has made it clear he'd like to retire in New Orleans. Kamara's contract heading into the year had a cap hit that ballooned in the 2025 season with largely non-guaranteed money, making it likely he'd become a free agent without a reworked deal. Kamara left early from the team's minicamp as part of the contract dispute, but that was the only real fallout experienced in a league where star players will so often hold out for new deals.
Kamara was in attendance on the first day of camp, indicating he had no interest in accruing the mandatory daily fines for player holdouts, and participated in the full program beyond a few absences as he dealt with what the team called back stiffness.
Related
The new deal functionally guarantees two more seasons for Kamara, who is on track for career numbers and usage in his age 29 season. Kamara has already carried the ball 111 times for 438 yards and 6 touchdowns, while catching another 34 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. At one point earlier this season he was leading the NFL in touches per game, a mark that's ticked down as the offense has found limited success amid a 5-game losing streak that's included the team having to turn to rookie Spencer Rattler in place of an injured Derek Carr.
Still, Kamara -- always outspoken -- has stayed committed to his team publicly, despite erroneous reporting over the weekend that he had requested a trade. Kamara took it upon himself to squash those rumors on social media, and just a few days later had his extension inked.
Related
The deal makes Kamara one of the highest-paid running back in the league over the next few seasons, but does fly somewhat in the face of what the team might be facing should they not pull out of their current skid soon. The Saints' next chance to do that will be on Sunday in L.A. when they face off with the Chargers.