Saints: Three reasons Alvin Kamara might consider hold out

His Draft Class’ Influence

The 2017 Draft produced plenty of the leaders and important role players for the Saints’ roster.

Both Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams were selected for the team’s secondary while Ryan Ramczyk and Trey Hendrickson were selected for their respective offensive and defensive line positions.

Although he isn’t discussed as much as the offensive and defensive rookies of the year, linebacker Alex Anzalone was also taken in this class. There is little doubt that Kamara’s draft class was a gold mine, but it does create issues for the team.

While the team has enacted their fifth-year option on both Ramczyk and Lattimore, they are still going to be forced to pay some major contracts at the same time that could result in the roster dissolving or the cap space taking a major hit.

Kamara and his representatives are well aware of the position that they hold for the team currently, and forcing the team into a long-term contract is likely the only way that the team can afford to backload in order to retain players like Lattimore and Ramczyk.

Kamara is also well aware of the kind of money that other running backs in his draft class are capable of making based on the monstrous contract that Panthers’ running back Christian McCaffrey signed this offseason.

Granted, McCaffrey did have a historic season and the ceiling of that contract is unreasonable for every back to expect, but such a major deal raises the expectations for everyone slightly.

Currently, Dalvin Cook, another 2017 running back draftee, is vying for his own major contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings.

Both Cook and Kamara have had some shortcomings and underperforming at certain points in their young careers, but that is not deterring Cook from pursuing a contract worth roughly ten to thirteen million dollars annually.

Considering Kamara has been healthier longer and what he has done for the team, there’s no reason that he should not seek out what others are receiving as well. Kamara understands that contract prices are rising and that he is an invaluable cog in the team’s offense.