Saints Restructure RB Alvin Kamara's Contract, Raising Questions About His Future

The move provides salary cap flexibility, potentially signaling Kamara's departure from New Orleans.

Mar. 6, 2026 at 3:06pm

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The New Orleans Saints have restructured the contract of veteran running back Alvin Kamara, converting $10.155 million of his salary. This unusual move could mean Kamara is designated as a post-June 1 release or that he remains with the team for the final year of his contract. The Saints are facing a tight salary cap situation and have already restructured deals for other key players. Kamara's future with the team remains uncertain, potentially fueling speculation that the Saints are preparing to draft his replacement.

Why it matters

Alvin Kamara has been a cornerstone of the Saints' offense since being drafted in 2017, making five Pro Bowls. His potential departure would be a significant loss for the team, but the Saints' salary cap constraints may force them to make difficult decisions. This move could signal the end of Kamara's tenure in New Orleans and the start of a new era in the Saints' backfield.

The details

The Saints restructured Kamara's contract in a way that differs from the standard base salary-to-bonus conversions they have done with other players. This move provides the team with $8 million in additional salary cap flexibility, potentially indicating that Kamara could be designated as a post-June 1 release or that he will remain with the team for the final year of his contract.

  • The Saints restructured Kamara's contract this week.
  • Kamara's contract is set to expire after the 2026 NFL season.

The players

Alvin Kamara

A veteran running back who has spent his entire 9-year NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, making 5 Pro Bowl appearances.

Chase Young

A defensive end for the New Orleans Saints who had his contract restructured this week.

Justin Reid

A safety for the New Orleans Saints who had his contract restructured this week.

Juwan Johnson

A tight end for the New Orleans Saints who had his contract restructured this week.

Jeremiyah Love

A running back prospect from Notre Dame who is projected to be drafted by the Saints in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“It wasn't the same standard conversion that Justin Reid, Juwan Johnson, and Chase Young did.”

— Nick Underhill

“The Saints and Alvin Kamara have adjusted his contract, lowering his cap number for 2026 by $8 million. But as [Underhill] notes, it's not a standard base salary-to-bonus conversion. Provides cap flexibility if he's not with the team. A situation to monitor.”

— Mike Garafolo

What’s next

The Saints will need to decide whether to designate Kamara as a post-June 1 release or keep him on the team for the final year of his contract. This decision will likely come in the coming weeks as the team works to become salary cap compliant.

The takeaway

The Saints' restructuring of Alvin Kamara's contract suggests the team is preparing for life without their longtime star running back. This move provides salary cap flexibility, potentially signaling that the Saints are ready to move on and draft Kamara's replacement, such as Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, in the 2026 NFL Draft.