New Orleans Saints, Alvin Kamara reach contract extension

The New Orleans Saints have locked up Alvin Kamara for the future after reaching a 5-year contract extension.

After all the talk and speculation surrounding the contract talks with the New Orleans Saints and star running back Alvin Kamara, we finally have a resolution.

Multiple sources are reporting the deal between Kamara and the Saints is a 5 year, $77.1 million extension including a $15 million signing bonus. Details of the deal were first reported by Ian Rapoport from NFL Network.

Fans were wondering when a deal would get done after deals around the league were finalized for Cincinnati Bengals Joe Mixon and Minnesota Vikings Dalvin Cook at the running back position. Further speculation ran rampant after Kamara was absent for practice for three straight days.

Most believed this was a holdout due to contract disputes.

However, it was later confirmed that Kamara had a back flare up and was seeking treatment to improve his condition. The fourth-year running back has certainly earned every penny he will be allotted as he has proven on the field how valuable a commodity he is in this offense.

He has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first 3 seasons and has proven to be a multi-dimensional back both running and catching the ball. Kamara has caught exactly 81 passes every season he’s been in the NFL, which is first among running backs during the same time period.

Many figured this deal was going to get done and done soon as the New Orleans Saints restructured Sheldon Rankins’ contract allowing them to save $4 million in cap space this season. That move necessary is having the money needed to get the Kamara deal done.

This comes one day before the Saints are scheduled to open their season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Superdome. Kamara is expected to officially sign his deal sometime before the game and be ready to open the season as a top NFL back.