Alvin Kamara, the Saints' star running back, is officially staying in New Orleans after finalizing a contract restructure that keeps him with the team. He's reportedly set to play the 2026 season on a $6 million base salary, with incentives that could push his total earnings up to $8.5 million. This move reworks his previous agreement, which would have seen him carry a hefty $10.5 million salary cap hit for next season.
The Future Is Now for Kamara and Etienne
Despite trade rumors swirling throughout the offseason, Kamara's agent confirmed that "Alvin's goal, and the team's goal, was for him to remain with the Saints and retire a Saint." This is huge for a player who's spent his entire nine-season NFL career in New Orleans, making the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons and earning All-Pro honors twice. While his production and efficiency have seen a dip as he approaches his 31st birthday next week, he's remained an integral part of their offense. The Saints just locked up former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. on a four-year, $52 million free agent deal, which sparked tons of talk that Kamara was as good as gone. Instead, they're forming a dynamic 1-2 tandem. Etienne is projected to be the lead back, letting Kamara slide into a secondary and specialist role for his 10th NFL season. Can you imagine the headaches these two will give defenses?The Saints' Uphill Battle in the NFC South
This backfield shake-up comes as the Saints are looking to bounce back from a rough 6-11 season, which landed them in last place in the NFC South. They finished two games behind the first-place Carolina Panthers in a division that's pretty much always up for grabs. There's real hope surrounding second-round quarterback Tyler Shough, who showed flashes of brilliance in his nine starts as a rookie last season, especially throwing to All-Pro wide receiver Chris Olave. New Orleans is clearly banking on Shough taking a big leap in his second year to help them contend in the division. Olave himself is set to play on his fifth-year team option, with reported discussions for a long-term extension heating up. Saints fans are absolutely buzzing for news on that Olave deal next. The Saints are clearly going all-in on a re-tooled offense, hoping this Kamara-Etienne tandem and Shough's growth can propel them to contention in the traditionally wide-open NFC South. It's a make-or-break season for a team desperate to climb out of the basement, and all eyes will be on how this new-look offense performs.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.