Alvin Kamara's recent contract dilemma with the New Orleans Saints has taken quite the turn.
According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, the Saints are open to trading the 25-year-old Pro Bowl running back.
While the team prefers to sign Kamara to a long-term deal, a trade is on the table if they cannot reach an agreement and would seek a first-round pick in return, per Jeff Duncan of The Athletic.
Kamara, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, had initially reported to training camp but had missed the last few practices and it was reportedly for contract-related reasons.
Kamara has continued to show up to the team facility and neither he nor his agent had asked for a trade, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. In fact, they were under the impression that negotiations were ongoing and that progress was being made toward an extension.
Head coach Sean Payton had declined to talk about Kamara's absence, or anyone else who did not practice when he met with reporters on Monday.
Kamara, a third-round draft pick in 2017 out of Tennessee, said on Aug. 10 that he was not concerned about the status of his contract.
"Me and my agent talked briefly about it," he said, "And I told him, I said...don't tell me anything about a contract until it's like something where it's happening, as or if it is something that I need to know."
At least two running backs from Kamara's draft class have already received contract extensions.
Christian McCaffrey, who was drafted in the first round, recently signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension while Bengals running back Joe Mixon – taken in the second round – reportedly received a four-year, $48 million extension on Tuesday.
Kamara has been a Pro Bowl running back in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, accumulating at least 1,300 yards from scrimmage in all of those seasons.
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