As is usually the case, the New Orleans Saints have some serious work to do ahead of free agency. Every offseason, the Saints seem to find themselves with salary cap trouble, and this offseason is no exception. As a result, the front office has been working tirelessly to free up money so that the team can duck under the salary cap once the new league year starts up next Wednesday.
New Orleans has identified several players whose contracts they could restructure, with one player being veteran running back Alvin Kamara. Despite being outwardly loyal to New Orleans, Kamara’s future has been the subject of much speculation over the past few months, and the team’s latest move involving him surely won’t put those rumors to rest.
Saints Restructure Alvin Kamara’s Contract, But There’s a Catch
Kamara has spent his entire nine-year career with the Saints, and during that time, he’s become one of the top dual-threat running backs in the league. Kamara was selected to five-straight Pro Bowl selections to begin his career, while also earning a spot on the All-Pro Second Team twice along the way as well.
Over the past few seasons, though, Kamara’s production has taken a turn for the worse, with the 2025 campaign being the least effective of his career. While injuries played a role in his struggles, it’s been a surprise to see Kamara stick with a New Orleans team that desperately needs to get younger at the running back position.
For now, the two sides remain together, but that could change this offseason. Unsurprisingly, Kamara’s contract was restructured, with the move freeing up $8 million in cap space for New Orleans’ front office. However, as NFL insider Mike Garafolo of NFL Network noted, this wasn’t a typical contract restructure, as it was done to account for the possibility of Kamara not being with the Saints in 2026.
“The Saints and Alvin Kamara have adjusted his contract, lowering his cap number for 2026 by $8 million,” Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported in a post on X. But as Nick Underhill (of New Orleans Football) notes, it’s not a standard base salary-to-bonus conversion. Provides cap flexibility if he’s not with the team. A situation to monitor…”
Should the Saints Move on from Alvin Kamara?
(Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints carries the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)
Kamara’s commitment to the Saints is admirable, but it would likely be best for all parties if they simply parted ways this offseason. New Orleans could shed even more money and get younger at running back, while Kamara could land with a squad that is for sure going to be a playoff contender moving forward.
And yet, neither side has wanted to file for divorce just yet. The Saints will likely continue listening to trade offers on Kamara, but it’s fair to wonder if he’s just simply going to finish his career with the team. For the time being, Kamara is off the hook, but this could finally be the offseason where he ends up landing with a new team.
Saints Make $8 Million Alvin Kamara Move Ahead of Free Agency