Saints' Alvin Kamara Remains Team's Most Overpaid Player

The star running back carries a $10.5 million cap hit despite recent contract restructuring.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:14pm

A cubist-style painting depicting a football player in motion, with their jersey number partially visible but their face and other identifying details obscured by overlapping geometric shapes and planes.The Saints' star running back Alvin Kamara remains one of the team's most expensive players, despite recent contract restructuring.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Saints have been trying to get out of salary cap purgatory for multiple seasons, and they finally achieved that goal in 2026. However, star running back Alvin Kamara remains one of the team's most overpaid players, carrying a $10.5 million cap hit for the upcoming season despite a recent contract restructure.

Why it matters

The Saints' salary cap situation has been a challenge in recent years, forcing them to make difficult decisions about which players to retain. Kamara's large contract is a significant burden, and the team will need to carefully evaluate whether he remains worth the investment, especially with the addition of rookie running back Travis Etienne Jr.

The details

Kamara, a five-time Pro Bowler, has been a beloved offensive star for the Saints, but his $10.5 million cap hit is considered relatively high for his production in recent seasons. The team has restructured his contract in an effort to create more cap space, but he remains one of the most expensive players on the roster.

  • The Saints have been trying to get out of cap purgatory for multiple seasons.
  • The team achieved their goal of getting out of salary cap purgatory in 2026.

The players

Alvin Kamara

A five-time Pro Bowl running back for the New Orleans Saints.

Travis Etienne Jr.

A rookie running back signed by the Saints in the 2026 offseason.

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The takeaway

The Saints' decision to retain Alvin Kamara despite his large contract will be a key storyline to follow in the 2026 season, as the team balances his production with the need to manage their salary cap effectively.