Running back Alvin Kamara does not expect his contract negotiations with the New Orleans Saints to continue during the 2024 regular season.
“It is too late for contract negotiations,” Kamara said on Monday, according to Fletcher Mackel of WDSU.
He added: “I mean, if it works out, it’s cool. If it doesn’t, it’s cool too. I’m kind of at the point where I’m not going to talk about it until after the season. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Kamara and the Saints held contract negotiations earlier this year but were unable to reach an agreement during the offseason. The five-time Pro Bowler skipped the final day of the team’s mandatory minicamp in June because negotiations stalled, but he did report to training camp with the club.
Kamara has two years left on his contract and his current deal calls for a base salary of $10.2 million in 2024 and $22.4 million in 2025. He originally signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension in 2020, making him the NFL’s second-highest-paid running back in terms of average annual salary.
However, according to Over The Cap, New Orleans would save $18.9 million in salary cap space and $10.1 million in dead money if it releases Kamara in 2025 with a contract extension before June 1. If the team releases the 29-year-old after June 1 next year, the Saints would save $25 million in salary cap space and just $4 million in dead money.
Kamara fueled speculation about his frustration with the Saints after recently putting his house up for sale. On Monday, he addressed the situation, saying it had nothing to do with his contract situation.
“I would like to call myself a serial entrepreneur,” Kamara said. “I’m involved in many things, real estate is one of them. … I think it was a good financial decision to put my house up for sale.”
He added: “My brother is also a real estate agent. I wouldn’t say I had a precise plan, but I’m pretty determined in my moves in the real estate business.”
Kamara surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards for the seventh consecutive season despite playing in just 13 games in 2023. He also scored six touchdowns. But the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year – who led the NFL with 6.1 yards per carry attempt as a rookie – averaged just 3.9 yards per carry last season.
