Latest On Saints & Alvin Kamara

Here is a collection of reports following the news that the Saints are reportedly open to trading RB Alvin Kamara. 

• Charles Robinson hears that the Saints are comfortable making him a top-five highest-paid running back at $12 million per year, but he’s pushing for closer to the $16 million per year the Panthers are paying Christian McCaffrey. 
• Robinson says the Saints view the new extension Joe Mixon signed with the Bengals as a starting point for talks with Kamara. However, Kamara’s camp considers his overall impact on their offensive scheme to be unique enough to make him worth more. 
• As for the trade report, Robinson says options aren’t being taken off the table and it’s an ongoing negotiation. Robinson adds that leaving the trade option open doesn’t necessarily mean the Saints are shopping him around the league in trade talks.
• Ian Rapoport says he spoke with Kamara and his agent and neither has asked for or demanded a trade. According to Rapoport, the thought is the two parties were actively negotiating and making progress on an extension. Beyond that, Rapoport says Kamara has never threatened to hold out and has been in the building every day.
• Jason La Canfora confirms that the Saints would trade Kamara for the right price, which of course would be steep. However, it doesn’t sound like anything is close on this front right now. The Saints are still trying to sign him to an extension, but have limits on how far they would go.
• Nick Underhill has been hearing that the Saints and Kamara are about $2 million apart on a long-term deal.
• Jeff Duncan reports that the Saints’ first option is to sign Kamara to a long-term deal, but only at the right price. If they don’t get a deal in place, Duncan says the Saints are open to a trade, but would be seeking a first-round pick in return.

It’s worth mentioning that the Saints will have their franchise tag available next year if they hold on to Kamara need to prevent him from hitting the open market.

Kamara, 25, is a former third-round pick of the Saints back in 2017. Kamara is in the final year of his four-year, $3.85 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $977,500 for the 2020 season. 

Kamara is in line to be an unrestricted free agent in 2021. 

In 2019, Kamara appeared in 14 games for the Saints and rushed for 797 yards on 171 carries (4.7 YPC) to go along with 81 receptions for 533 yards receiving and six total touchdowns.

We have him included in our Top 50 – 2021 Free Agents list.