Contract issue prompts Saints star to leave minicamp

The Saints, known for their adeptness in restructuring contracts, have not made any adjustments to Alvin Kamara’s contract this offseason. Despite utilizing his deal for salary cap relief in the past, the structure of the Pro Bowl running back’s contract indicates that 2024 is likely intended to be his practical final year under the current terms.

While Kamara’s five-year, $75millionextensiontechnicallyextendsthrough2025,the2025seasoncontainsanon-guaranteed$22.4 million base salary that is highly unlikely to be honored. Recent developments unfolded when Kamara departed from the Saints’ facilities before the minicamp practice, reportedly due to a contract-related issue confirmed by sources like Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Despite discussions between the two parties regarding the contract this offseason, there has been no progress towards reaching a resolution, as reported by Underhill. Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com mentioned that the veteran running back, set to turn 29 next month, is indeed looking for an extension, while maintaining a $10.2 million base salary for the 2024 season.

Amidst a challenging period for running back contracts, Kamara emerged as one of the beneficiaries by securing a lucrative deal worth $15 million per year just before the 2020 season. Despite having a contractual loophole to elevate the average annual value (AAV), Kamara’s deal matched Ezekiel Elliott’s for second place in per-year value among running backs, trailing Christian McCaffrey’s extension with the Panthers. While other running backs have seen alterations in their contracts or moved to new deals, Kamara remains on the contract he signed in 2020.

The running back market has seen fluctuations since Kamara’s initial contract, with several notable changes in deals and salary structures. While Kamara’s AAV still ranks second behind McCaffrey’s new extension with the 49ers, the landscape for running back contracts has not experienced a significant surge in value. Despite potential uncertainties surrounding Kamara’s future with the Saints, he has navigated well through his current contract terms.

Despite challenges and fluctuations in his performance, particularly in recent seasons, Kamara remains a significant figure for the Saints. However, speculations suggest that the Saints may seek to shed his contract from their payroll by 2025. Kamara faces fines for skipping workouts, indicating potential tensions surrounding his contract situation and future with the team.