This could be Alvin's last year as a Saint and it would be a massive mistake by Allen (1 Viewer)

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

The Alvin situation is totally flexible for a simple reason -- if Kubiak succeeds, and he proves he is the indispensable lynchpin to the Kubiak offense, and Alvin is thriving ... he's not going anywhere. He puts up 1400 total yards and he's here like Cam Jordan for another few years.

If the offense doesn't work or Alvin isn't a star in it, he's gone.

I hope that's the case, but also think they could have taken care of him prior to running him into the ground like they will this year. Even if he puts up 1400 yards and 10 TD's next year on 400 touches. He's going to get devalued on the open market anyway because of his age and then recent usage, so it's a catch 22 for him. That's why I've always taken stance team could have given him security via extra years prior to the season if they wanted to.

There's no excuse for Age etc when Taysom is almost 6 years older and no one is using that same logic and we extended him another year knowing we're going to use the hell out of him too.

 

[livefromDC]

It's going to be a costly miscalculation by the Saints in my opinion. The way AK is going ball out in Kubiak's system, it's insane that the front office is shortsighted to seeing it. If this is true, It's going to be the NY Giants all over again. Ah well. The Saints will split hairs about paying AK a couple million more in a 2 to 3 year extension this year and actually help the salary cap, then waste that same coin signing some has been or never was players in April who get cut in training camp. I'm convinced Loomis has to be a cap genius out of necessity because he makes repeated personnel blunders like this. It's going to be costly, the opposite of the effect he's hoping to achieve.

 

[los226]

I understand why the Saints don’t want to pay Kamara. It’s a business thing, but I also don’t think he minds getting out of here and DA’s locker room. I’d love to see him finish his career with Mahomes and Kansas City as the passing down RB. McKinnon has had some monster games in that role.

 

[solarbear88]

I am a bit surprised the haven't extended him till he is 31. I can't see them going beyond that. I guess AK will have to prove it this year.

 

[NatureBoy]

I'm still shocked that the Saints didn't transition AK in to more of a slot WR type of position. He runs excellent routes and has great hands. He's elusive. You can keep him involved in the running game with jet sweeps. I slot WR in their young 30s isn't nearly as far fetched as a heavy load RB in their late 20s/early 30s.

 

[kcirdor]

when ever someone tells me Kamara isn't a top x back and I sit back and think "yes, yes... Underestimate us, please..."

 

[St. Widge]

I understand why the Saints don’t want to pay Kamara. It’s a business thing, but I also don’t think he minds getting out of here and DA’s locker room. I’d love to see him finish his career with Mahomes and Kansas City as the passing down RB. McKinnon has had some monster games in that role.

The funny thing is that Kamara said in the interview with Underhill that he and Payton used to yell at each other all the time, including when Payton called Kamara and cursed him out when he was holding out for a new contract. But Kamara said he was cool with that. So, I guess you never know what a guy likes or doesn't like in a head coach. But, Kamara did say he wants to play as long as it's fun. I suspect he would see DA as a lot more fun if he was actually winning games. Winning games cures everything.

 

[St. Widge]

when ever someone tells me Kamara isn't a top x back and I sit back and think "yes, yes... Underestimate us, please..."

I think he's a top back. The question is how long will he remain a top back?

 

[St. Widge]

I am a bit surprised the haven't extended him till he is 31. I can't see them going beyond that. I guess AK will have to prove it this year.

I think he wants to extend beyond 31. AK told Underhill that he thinks he can play for 6 more years.

 

[DerrickB]

So, what exactly is Dennis Allen's culture?

 

[silverbullet]

Never extend a RB past 30. Never.

 

[B4YOU]

I'm still shocked that the Saints didn't transition AK in to more of a slot WR type of position. He runs excellent routes and has great hands. He's elusive. You can keep him involved in the running game with jet sweeps. I slot WR in their young 30s isn't nearly as far fetched as a heavy load RB in their late 20s/early 30s.

I think RB/FB Taysom frees AK for more slot option routes. AK's acceleration and change of direction excels in that role.

 

[J.T.]

Any opinion for resigning Kamara without $$$ listed or consideration of future cap is a nice fan take.

AK is going to play out his contract because he is getting 15.5M this year and any new contract will ask him to cut his pay. Derrick Henry 30yo is playing for 8M/yr for 2yr with 9M guaranteed so a 1yr deal. Pollard 26yo is playing for 7.5M/yr for 3yr but only 10.5M is guaranteed so it's a 2yr deal at 7.5M. RB contracts are 2yr deals league-wide now once your break 27yo.

Offer AK 8.5M/yr 2yrs ('25 and '26) with 14M guaranteed but a 3M salary pay cut this year or move on. This is a Henry's deal with 2M more guaranteed but at Pollard's cost with cap relief today. Kamara gets bigger guaranteed money tomorrow and better likelyhood of playing in '26. If he blows out a knee, then someone will offer him 1yr 4-5M deal.

It's very easy to say, keep Karama, extend him, etc, but this is the reality of the situation. At his age, usage and some injury history, he's looking at three possible scenarios:

1). He balls out, gets 1,400 yards rushing, 60+ receptions for 500+ yards and 15+ TD's. Saints win the Division and get to the NFC Championship Game. He does that, he is a CMAC type of exception maybe, but doesn't get that type of money from the Saints, he would get cut. Saints don't even get a Comp Pick.

2). Kamara has a "good" but not great year. Say about his career averages of 1,500 combined yards and 11 TD's. CMAC had over 2,000 combined yards and 21 TD's last year. Kamara is "worth" and gets a contract offer from the Saints a little bit better than what is outlined by B4YOU above. He takes it or walks.

3). Kamara has a bad year, injured or ineffective. He's gone. Signs with Denver for "above" market at $5-6 million per year. Saints should offer $8 million just to get Demver to overpay.

Under 2 1/2 of the scenarios, he's gone. Loomis makes this call, assuming he doesn't "retire" and then go to Denver in 2025.

 

[Saint Greg]

The one thing I'm interested in is it seems like last year when we gave Jameis last 1 year deal...it worked out for both sides because we gave him less than his dead money would be but it was more than what anyone else would give him. We have that 10mil dead money hit on Alvin next year. If we could convert that to real money. 1 year 10 mil..and instead of 10mil dead money, you get Alvin...that would be great. I'm guessing he's asking for more years, but I'd like to see something like that work out..

 

[silverbullet]

By the time the Saints are contenders again, Kamara will likely be retired. Makes no sense to extend a RB with this roster, coach and QB.