What's a reasonable contract extension for Kamara to avoid possible holdout? (1 Viewer)

[BCK30]

I want Alvin Kamara to be a Saint as long as he truly wants to be here. No, this past season wasn't his best. Partially, it was due to injury and the other was the way he was used IMO. Why Sean Payton insisted on giving him so many between the tackle carries that could have easily went to Latavius Murray is beyond me. A part of me also has to wonder if Kamara got a little salty after Michael Thomas got his money and he went into what I like to call the "MeMe" stage. The Saints can not and will not break the bank for Kamara. If that is what he wants then he'll be on the first thing smoking out of New Orleans. If he wants Todd Gurley or Ezekiel Elliot money it won't come from the Saints. But, if he's reasonable I could see a 4 year, 25 million dollar deal coming his way and I think that's fair. Kamara has no leverage to hold out even though he's coming to the last year on his rookie deal which is paltry at best. However, the bottom line is he's coming off a subpar season and if his agent were in his best agent he'd tell Kamara to report to camp on time and try to "ball out" to earn the big payday.

 

[SweetT]

The only issue with AK41 and his contract will be Rich Paul.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I want Alvin Kamara to be a Saint as long as he truly wants to be here. No, this past season wasn't his best. Partially, it was due to injury and the other was the way he was used IMO. Why Sean Payton insisted on giving him so many between the tackle carries that could have easily went to Latavius Murray is beyond me. A part of me also has to wonder if Kamara got a little salty after Michael Thomas got his money and he went into what I like to call the "MeMe" stage. The Saints can not and will not break the bank for Kamara. If that is what he wants then he'll be on the first thing smoking out of New Orleans. If he wants Todd Gurley or Ezekiel Elliot money it won't come from the Saints. But, if he's reasonable I could see a 4 year, 25 million dollar deal coming his way and I think that's fair. Kamara has no leverage to hold out even though he's coming to the last year on his rookie deal which is paltry at best. However, the bottom line is he's coming off a subpar season and if his agent were in his best agent he'd tell Kamara to report to camp on time and try to "ball out" to earn the big payday.

6.25 million a year is really, really low.

I doubt Kamara's agent will even get on a plane for less than $10mm/year as a starting point. Zeke and Gurley each got $15mm/year.

If I had to throw a dart at what he'll end up signing for, it's four years worth about $50 million in total.

 

[BCK30]

6.25 million a year is really, really low.

I doubt Kamara's agent will even get on a plane for less than $10mm/year as a starting point. Zeke and Gurley each got $15mm/year.

If I had to throw a dart at what he'll end up signing for, it's four years worth about $50 million in total.

I agree with your premise but just don't see the Saints paying that.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I agree with your premise but just don't see the Saints paying that.

Unfortunately I don't either. I think he's a goner.

 

[Doug B]

Here are all NFL running back current 2019 league year contracts in a sortable table -- 400 hundred players from Elliot and Gurley down to practice-squad guys.

Kamara can actually get a top-several deal without breaking the Saints' cap. Look at the column Guaranteed at Signing -- that carries more sway than Average Salary.

Given that, I look at Devonta Freeman's and Leonard Fournette's contracts (fourth and eighth on the list at the link). Compared to each other, Freeman's base salary figures per year are higher while Fournette's signing bonus was much higher. Also of note is that Fournette's entire contract is guaranteed -- he gets paid everything even if he's released or injured.

Seems like it would be a fair offer to slot Kamara between Freeman and Fournette somehow. It would be somewhat risky to fully guarantee Kamara's entire deal, but doing so might be a way to mitigate the cap hit and convince Kamara's camp to accept less than the "fluffed up" total contract numbers gotten by Elliot, Leveon Bell, and Gurley.

 

[DomePatrol2005]

A trade is the only responsible thing unfortunately

 

[SweetT]

6.25 million a year is really, really low.

I doubt Kamara's agent will even get on a plane for less than $10mm/year as a starting point. Zeke and Gurley each got $15mm/year.

If I had to throw a dart at what he'll end up signing for, it's four years worth about $50 million in total.

I’m a huge AK41 fan, but realistically $10 million is way too high. $7 million would be my offer, $8 million is the highest.

 

[SweetT]

A trade is the only responsible thing unfortunately

A trade is the last resort

 

[Doug B]

If I had to throw a dart at what he'll end up signing for, it's four years worth about $50 million in total.

Devonta Freeman's deal, signed in 2017, is five years for $41.25, with only $17.3 million guaranteed at signing. Add another $10 million is signing bonus, and you get to Fournette's level.

Might Kamara do five years for, say, $52 million? Especially for a fully guaranteed deal? It's hard to imagine his style of player getting a second huge contract after four years at age 28 ... seems that fifth year could be enticing.

 

[Stalwart385]

Here are all NFL running back current 2019 league year contracts in a sortable table -- 400 hundred players from Elliot and Gurley down to practice-squad guys.

Kamara can actually get a top-several deal without breaking the Saints' cap. Look at the column Guaranteed at Signing -- that carries more sway than Average Salary.

Given that, I look at Devonta Freeman's and Leonard Fournette's contracts (fourth and eighth on the list at the link). Compared to each other, Freeman's base salary figures per year are higher while Fournette's signing bonus was much higher. Also of note is that Fournette's entire contract is guaranteed -- he gets paid everything even if he's released or injured.

Seems like it would be a fair offer to slot Kamara between Freeman and Fournette somehow. It would be somewhat risky to fully guarantee Kamara's entire deal, but doing so might be a way to mitigate the cap hit and convince Kamara's camp to accept less than the "fluffed up" total contract numbers gotten by Elliot, Leveon Bell, and Gurley.

Fournette is on a rookie contract. Hard to use a rookie contract as a measuring stick. It's just based on draft slot. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe all 1st round contracts are fully guaranteed.

On that chart change "all types" to "veteran" to see contracts players earned in the market.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Here are all NFL running back current 2019 league year contracts in a sortable table -- 400 hundred players from Elliot and Gurley down to practice-squad guys.

Kamara can actually get a top-several deal without breaking the Saints' cap. Look at the column Guaranteed at Signing -- that carries more sway than Average Salary.

Given that, I look at Devonta Freeman's and Leonard Fournette's contracts (fourth and eighth on the list at the link). Compared to each other, Freeman's base salary figures per year are higher while Fournette's signing bonus was much higher. Also of note is that Fournette's entire contract is guaranteed -- he gets paid everything even if he's released or injured.

Seems like it would be a fair offer to slot Kamara between Freeman and Fournette somehow. It would be somewhat risky to fully guarantee Kamara's entire deal, but doing so might be a way to mitigate the cap hit and convince Kamara's camp to accept less than the "fluffed up" total contract numbers gotten by Elliot, Leveon Bell, and Gurley.

This is a good point. I just looked at Zeke, Gurley, and a couple others and you're right. It's mostly in roster bonuses and those type of things. I didn't realize those contracts were so "fluffy" - thanks for pointing that out.

Problem is we're sort of stuck in this rut of having to back-load everything because of the eternal dead cap we're carrying, so I'm not sure we have the luxury to structure the contracts like that. The Rams for example had almost all of the cap liability over the first three years of Gurley's contract, so they can actually cut bait after next year pretty easily. I'm not sure our finances line up to structure deals like that (front-loaded).

But Loomis is pretty damned good at what he does so who knows.

 

[Stalwart385]

I don't think it should be that high. I'd even go sub 10mil. Main reason being is he is a split time back.

All those top contracts signed were guys that were supposed to be feature backs (most didn't pan out though). I think Kamara has proven he can't handle the wear and tear of a feature back.

 

[Doug B]

Fournette is on a rookie contract. Hard to use a rookie contract as a measuring stick. It's just based on draft slot.

Erk -- you're right. Then you do kind of have to pull in Leveon Bell's deal as a comparable (and David Johnson's, too). However -- Bell's Pittsburgh numbers were greater than Kamara's. The counting stats, anyway.

Really, Bell & Johnson signing bonus paired with Freeman's base salary, with a salary bump for the deal being signed 3 years later ... then negotiate it back down (some!) based on lesser counting stats, the 2019 letdown, and the prospect of more guaranteed money in the deal. That's a starting point, at least. I get back to that 5 yrs for $52 million figure.

 

[Merl]

6.25 million a year is really, really low.

I doubt Kamara's agent will even get on a plane for less than $10mm/year as a starting point. Zeke and Gurley each got $15mm/year.

If I had to throw a dart at what he'll end up signing for, it's four years worth about $50 million in total.

IF that is what happens then he can either sit out the year saving the Saints $977.5 mil or play for the same amount and try again next year or walk out as a free agent. With the numerous starters and key contributors that are set to be free agents (and one RFA in Taysom) tat the Saints need to sign plus leave enough space for the drafted rookies and some for emergency signings during the seaon I don't see anyway the team can afford to extend anyone still under contract next year.