After seeing several of his fellow running backs receive a contract extension this summer, it appears that New Orleans Saints’ Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara also wants one.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kamara has missed the last three days of practice, which was reportedly motivated by the 25-year-old player’s wish to get a new deal. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and will earn $2.1 million in 2020.
Missing practice represents a change of strategy for Kamara, as he was previously taking a patient approach to negotiations. Back in early August, he told the media that he isn’t focused on getting a new contract and added that “it’ll happen when it happens.”
It’s believed that Kamara would like to be one of the highest-paid backs in the league, aiming at a yearly-salary between $13 million and $16 million. Saints, on the other hand, want to keep this number as low as possible as they are set to face a tight budget once the salary cap dips down next year.
Alvin Kamara emerged as one of the best dual-threat RBs in the league since entering the league in 2017 as Saints’ third-round pick, making Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons. However, he hasn’t been as productive in 2019, which is why New Orleans might be reluctant to commit big money to him.
After racking up 3,146 yards from scrimmage and 31 touchdowns in his first two seasons in the league, Kamara took a step down in the past year. He had 797 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns to go with a career-low 533 receiving yards and just one TD.
