In the latest Sunday night’s Football Night in America review of the day that was, I had high praise for Saints running back Alvin Kamara who has been off to a fantastic start this season, despite the looming possibility of being released after the season. Surprisingly, some were taken aback by my remark.
But truth be told, there’s really no shock here. For those not closely following the intricate web of player contracts and salary cap implications, certain realities in the NFL can appear quite surreal. One of those realities being the impending release of Kamara by the Saints after this season, regardless of his performance or the team’s success.
The crux of the issue lies in the hefty $25 million compensation package Kamara is set to earn next year. This figure was never a genuine reflection of his worth; rather, it was designed to inflate his average annual salary to $15 million. A strategy that has been used before in deals like Tyreek Hill’s contract with the Dolphins, where a fabricated final year boosted the average yearly salary to $30 million.
As the adage goes, a falsehood can travel halfway around the world before the truth even has a chance to put on its pants. In the realm of NFL contracts inflated by artificial final years, the truth often finds itself armored up with a lance and flaming sword, while most prefer to turn a blind eye.
The moment of reckoning is fast approaching for the Saints and Kamara. He will likely be released at the end of the season without a new deal in place. Kamara had pushed for a new contract before this season, even going as far as skipping mandatory minicamp to show his dissatisfaction.
Eventually, he came to terms with the situation – his best course of action now is to play exceptionally well and hope that the Saints will present him with a compelling offer. Should they fail to do so, Kamara will undoubtedly seek to maximize his earnings elsewhere.
Perhaps a potential landing spot could be in Denver, where a reunion with Sean Payton, the coach who drafted him in the third round back in 2017, could be on the cards.
Looking ahead, it’s easy to assume that a stellar 2024 season for Kamara will inevitably result in a lucrative contract in 2025. However, the real challenge for him lies in proving that he can sustain his high level of performance beyond this year.
Turning 30 next July, Kamara will face the formidable obstacle of Father Time, which could potentially hinder his earning potential in the years to come, regardless of his on-field success in the present season.