The blurry outlook for Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints finally has some clarity.
The Saints' franchise-leading rusher has agreed to a restructured deal that includes a pay cut, according to reports, likely ensuring at least one more season in black & gold. It's a development that makes a lot of sense to WWL Radio's Deuce McAllister.
"At the end of the day, I’m always a fan of having good players," Deuce said this week on SportsTalk, "and I still do believe that AK is still a good player."
Hear the full interview with Deuce McAllister in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Kamara's new deal will include a base salary of $6 million with $8.5 million more available with incentives, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The adjustment marks potential cap relief for the team, and clear assurance for Kamara that he won't be a cap casualty. Despite one year remaining on the two-year extension signed prior to the 2024 season, the team had remained noncommittal as far as Kamara's status with the team. Similar pay cut scenarios in the past -- Tyrann Mathieu, Demario Davis and Cam Jordan, to name a few -- were executed far earlier in their respective offseasons.
Unlike recent years, Kamara did make an appearance at the team's second OTA session, though he was only in attendance for one day. He was a full participant in veteran minicamp, but was held out of team drills. Kamara has remained consistent in stating that he wants to finish his career in New Orleans.
"I was fortunate and blessed enough to only play for the Saints, and so you know, not being in other locker rooms, I can’t tell you what it’s like. ... for [Kamara], he was obviously comfortable here in New Orleans," McAllister continued. "He wanted to finish his career here in New Orleans and hopefully he gets to go out on his own terms."
The next question to answer: Exactly what role will Kamara have? The Saints spent big in free agency to add former Jaguars star Travis Etienne, a 27-year-old Louisiana native who figures to lead the backfield. Will the tandem split close to even, or lean heavily in Etienne's direction? Cam Kamara have a resurgence with a lighter workload after logging career lows in both rushing and receiving yards in 2025 and finishing a second consecutive season on the mend from injury?
Kamara has enjoyed some of his best success in tandem situations. He came into the league working behind Mark Ingram, then it was Kamara leading the backfield with Latavius Murray. The Saints made an attempt to add a running mate for Kamara in recent years by spending a third round pick on Kendre Miller, but the former TCU star has never quite found his footing in the NFL due to nagging injuries. Kamara will be 31 years old by the start of the 2026 season.
There's no special approach a player needs at that age, Deuce says, but starring in the role provided is what has to happen.
"There’s not a magic wand that they wave at you and say hey, you turned 30, now you’re all done. It doesn’t work that way. ... You don’t want to be put in situations physically where you’re exposing yourself to more hits, and just understanding hey, I may not have the same burst, I may not be as strong as I once was, but I still know the game," Deuce said. "I still know how to get from Point A to B, for that extra yard on second down. YOu know, because we can get it on third down. Maybe it is being able to say hey, I’m not going to take this big hit right here on the sideline, because we do have another chance to be able to pick up that first down/touchdown. It’s just playing a little smarter, but it’s not like you’re not going to go out there and compete at the highest level.”
