Saints Approaching Decision On RB Alvin Kamara

Mickey Loomis said Kamara does not currently have a decision to make on his contract, which points to the Saints not yet insisting on a pay cut. But uncertainty still exists here. The longtime Saints GM said the team is moving toward a decision on the decorated dual-threat back.

“We’re just trying to see how he’s going to fit in our roster, and obviously there’s a resource management element to it, and we’ll get to that over the next week or two,” Loomis said, via NewOrleans.football.

The 25th-year Saints front office boss said OTAs provides “a little bit” of a deadline but cautioned the voluntary workouts — which Kamara has not attended in years — do not serve as the endpoint for the sides’ latest chapter. New Orleans’ OTAs begin May 27. Kamara would see his base salary reduced by $358K if he does not attend every Saints OTA workout, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell notes.

Kamara, 31 in July, is entering the final season of a two-year, $24.5MM extension. He is due a $1.35MM base salary but secured $3MM in guaranteed 2026 compensation in March 2025. Being that this is the Saints, a sizable dead money hit would come if Kamara is traded or released.

Loomis’ timeline seemingly aligns with the pivotal June 1 date. The Saints likely will not act before that point, as making a move after that date would be a more cost-effective solution (with regards to 2026). Parting with Kamara after June 1 would allow the Saints to spread the dead cap charges over the next two years. Cutting him after that date would take away around $900K in cap space, whereas a summer trade would save the Saints approximately $456K.

The Saints would be hit with $24.4MM if they cut Kamara, but making that move after June 1 would allow them to spread that penalty between their 2026 and ’27 payrolls. Four void years being included in this deal represents the primary dead money source if Kamara is jettisoned.

Loomis’ team was in the strange position of not carrying the NFL’s worst cap situation entering the offseason, which deviates from several years of the restructure-crazed franchise’s winter situations. The Saints hold $8.29MM in cap space. Nearly 12 months from the 2027 league year, New Orleans is projected to hold more than $48MM in cap space in 2027. Though, many variables between now and then will change the equation.

Etienne signed a four-year, $48MM deal that includes $24MM guaranteed. The ex-Jaguar’s fully guaranteed figure ranks sixth among running backs, matching Christian McCaffrey‘s 2024 extension. The Saints also have holdovers Kendre Miller and Devin Neal rostered; Neal was drafted to play in Moore’s system while Miller — who is in a contract year — arrived under Dennis Allen. Former Vikings backup Ty Chandler is also on the Saints’ roster.

It would seem the Saints could get by without Kamara, given Etienne’s presence. Kamara’s five-year run of Pro Bowls stopped after the 2021 season — Sean Payton‘s New Orleans finale — and he averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry last season. This came after a bounce-back 2024, when the ex-Payton chess piece tallied 1,493 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. Kamara missed the team’s final six games last season with an MCL sprain. He also missed time to close the ’24 season, battling a groin injury. Altogether, Kamara has missed 19 games since 2021.

Teams will undoubtedly be interested in a free agency agreement if the Saints move on via release. Kamara came out against a trade before last year’s deadline, indicating he would potentially retire rather than be dealt away from New Orleans. With Etienne in the fold, it is worth wondering if the Pro Bowl RB’s stance has changed. We should find out soon, with the June 1 date — even as the A.J. Brown situation overshadows other NFL matters pertaining to the pivotal point on the NFL calendar — will provide some clarity.