Saints’ Alvin Kamara Shares Marshawn Lynch Photo, Reports to Camp Amidst Contract Speculation
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who is looking to have his contract revised, shared a photo of himself with former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch on Instagram on Tuesday.
Kamara departed early from the Saints’ mandatory minicamp in June to pursue a new contract. However, he is currently in Irvine, California, for the team’s training camp.
While it’s unclear what Kamara’s photo with Lynch signifies, it’s well-known that Lynch once attended Super Bowl media day and repeatedly responded to questions with, “I’m here so I won’t get fined.”
Perhaps Kamara, who is signed through 2025, is suggesting a similar idea.
Regarding the contract situation, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided details during the June 16 edition of SportsCenter.
“He missed the last day of minicamp due to a contract issue. He has two years remaining on his deal, with $11.8 million owed this year. However, next year he’s set to earn $25 million, which is non-guaranteed. The Saints are unlikely to pay that amount.
“I’ve heard that Kamara is open to renegotiating a two-year contract to increase his guarantees for the first year. Discussions have occurred, but progress has been slow. If an agreement isn’t reached by late July, he might miss training camp.”
Kamara, who has played seven NFL seasons, has accumulated 10,048 yards from scrimmage and 77 touchdowns. Last year, he recorded 1,160 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns in 13 games.
His rushing average dropped from 5.0 yards per carry in his first four seasons to 3.9 YPC in the last three years. Although he’s not as explosive as before, he remains a productive and versatile back, averaging 72 receptions per season.
The five-time Pro Bowler has been outstanding for the Saints and is expected to start the season as the RB1 once again. However, there are significant concerns about the 2025 season.
Kamara’s cap hit for 2025 is set at $29 million, which is quite high. New Orleans could release him and save nearly $19 million on the cap, though they would incur $10 million in dead money.
A restructured contract that significantly reduces the cap number appears to be the best solution for both parties. While Kamara may not be as efficient as he once was, he remains a valuable dual threat and a key offensive weapon for the Saints.
