Saints' Alvin Kamara named most overpaid player on roster

Veteran running back carries $10.5 million cap hit in 2026 as team transitions to younger backfield.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:56pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting breaking down a football player in motion into sharp, overlapping geometric planes, with the player's jersey number obscured and their face abstracted, focusing on the dynamic energy of the sport.An abstract artistic interpretation of the Saints' salary cap challenges, with Alvin Kamara's bloated contract deconstructed into a cubist study of a running back's dynamic motion.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Saints have finally climbed out of salary cap purgatory, but one contract stands out as an albatross - running back Alvin Kamara's $10.5 million cap hit in 2026. As the team transitions to a younger backfield with the addition of Travis Etienne Jr., the 30-year-old Kamara is now considered the Saints' most overpaid player.

Why it matters

The Saints have worked hard to get their finances in order, but Kamara's bloated contract is holding them back. With Etienne now in the fold, Kamara is slated to be the sixth-highest paid running back in the league in 2026, despite his production declining last season. The Saints may have to consider trading or cutting Kamara to free up valuable cap space.

The details

Alvin Kamara, a five-time Pro Bowler, is currently set to count $10.6 million against the Saints' salary cap in 2026. This is far too much money for a running back who will likely be in a backup role behind the younger Etienne. Kamara's contract was recently restructured, but it's still considered an 'albatross' holding the team back financially.

  • Kamara is set to have a $10.5 million cap hit in the 2026 season.

The players

Alvin Kamara

A 30-year-old running back and five-time Pro Bowler for the New Orleans Saints, who is considered the team's most overpaid player due to his $10.5 million cap hit in 2026.

Travis Etienne Jr.

A young running back recently signed by the Saints, who is expected to take over the lead role in the backfield and make Kamara's large contract an issue for the team.

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What they’re saying

“We'll see if the five-time Pro Bowler sticks around following the addition of Travis Etienne Jr., because even after a recent restructure, Kamara is a relative albatross with a $10.5 million cap hit for 2026.”

— Brad Gagnon, Writer

What’s next

The Saints will have to decide whether to keep Kamara at his current salary, trade him, or potentially cut him to free up valuable cap space as they transition to a younger backfield.

The takeaway

Alvin Kamara's large contract is now the Saints' most overpaid player on the roster, as the team has moved on to a younger backfield led by Travis Etienne Jr. The Saints will have to make a difficult decision on Kamara's future with the team as they continue to improve their salary cap situation.