Saints’ Alvin Kamara not worried about new contract, no intent to hold out

New Orleans Saints’ three-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara is about to enter a contract year, and he has every intention of proving his value during it.

The New Orleans Saints should’ve been worried they may not have had Alvin Kamara at all in 2020. He’s a three-time Pro Bowl running back that made an appearance in the game even though he clearly wasn’t 100% for the bulk of 2019.

Kamara has been incredible, averaging over 1,400 all-purpose yards throughout his first three seasons in the league. That type of success is what led many to believe that the young back might have held out the final season of his rookie contract.

However, Kamara, according to ESPN’s Mike Triplett, isn’t worried about the situation.

“It’ll happen when it happens. Me and my agent talked briefly about it, and I told him, ‘Don’t tell me anything about a contract until it’s like something where it’s happening or there’s something I need to know,'” Kamara said. He continued with a very Alvin Kamara-like line of “I bet on myself every year.”

The Saints should want to extend Kamara, but they could also have bigger problems on their plate. Demario Davis, Marcus Williams, Marshon Lattimore, and several other stars will also need new contracts in the near future.

AK should be a priority, but it’s understandable for the Saints to want to wait to see how he plays in 2020. So, yes, Kamara is betting on himself. It’s a bet that, if he plays as he did in his first few seasons, could pay off.

Kamara is the real deal for a few reasons, but his ability to catch out of the backfield and slither between tackles as a lead back are both at the top. He’s a versatile threat that has been among the league’s shiftiest players for years.

A healthy Alvin Kamara is among the best backs in the NFL, but playing last year at under 100% has left a bad taste for many. It’s time for Kamara to show why he’s a top-five back and deserves to be paid like one.