AsylumGuido

Don't waste your time with Bako, Rez. He hates everything the Saints are now. Hates.

Sinner

AK IS OUT, at exactly the time that a well managed team in our position would have him IN. Nah we are a hot mess.
That’s what the Saints are now.

BakoSaint

There are 32 teams in the league, and if a team just won the Superbowl or got very close, that is often not the year that they move on from an aging running back in anticipation of decline, because it is safer to just 'stick with what worked' when it is working. Also, it is often the case that teams that feature star running backs as centerpieces of their offense don't win as many rings as more 'pass first' teams, so most teams that move on from such running backs are not great contenders before or after. The Saints did not win the Super Bowl or get close last year. The fact is that all these running backs decline around this age, then don't usually do much for their next team, and letting them walk if they want too much cash at least gives a chance to put that money on a player with upside. The Jets will sign him just like they signed LT2, Bell, and Cook, and he will be fine.

If AK is willing to take a team friendly deal like Demario Davis was, I would be happy for the Saints to extend him. If what it will take to make him happy is a 'him friendly' deal like Cam Jordan got when he started waxing poetic about his lovely dream to retire a Saint, we need to say No. My fear is a deal that approaches what the 49ers paid CMC, which would not be team friendly, something that guaranteed over $12 million in 2025 or over $8 million in 2026 before we even see if he lost a step or is rejuvenated in the new offense despite the questionable oline in 2024. Realistically, market value would be low for Kamara if he was a free agent, similar to Cook and Elliott last year. We don't need to pay way over market value.

A good example of a team benefitting from letting an aging RB walk is the Colts with Edgerrin James. The Colts let James walk in 2006, his age 28 season, and won the Super Bowl their first year without him, and returned to another Super Bowl 3 years later. Kamara will be entering his age 29 season this year. James signed with the Cardinals who did make the Super Bowl in 2008 his final year with the team, but by that times James was a greatly declined 500 yard rusher for the year and honestly the Cardinals might have a ring if they had put the money elsewhere.

saintsfan1976

If the O Line is up to the task, you resign him. Otherwise it's wasted money.

I'd guess;

3 years
$20 million
$12 million guaranteed

2026 is a void year.

The Dude

At this point I think he’s an important part of the culture within the organization and fan base. Hes seen us at our best and I think he’s needed if this team decides it wants to reestablish an identity. I say pay him and show the league we take care of our playmakers.

AsylumGuido

Kamara isn't wanting to leave. He's wanting to stay. It's not about the money, it's about an extension from everything I have heard and read. He wants to retire a Saint. This will be done before anything else resumes.

SmashMouth

Trade AK while you still can get some value and get that contract off the books, especially next year's dead money. No player swaps, just future draft capital. Juwan is a goner with yet another injury. Opens the door for multiple new TEs. We need motivated young new blood anyway.

AsylumGuido

Everything I'm hearing is that Kamara wants to spend the rest of his career in New Orleans. He's wanting an extension to stay here long term, not necessarily more money.

And don't forget, almost all of these players have agents and these type of moves are fully orchestrated by those agents. Nothing personal.

The Dude

Leaving while the team hits the field in front of God and everyone is a little different than leaking news or just not showing up. Looks like a message straight from Kamara to me. Obviously his agent is behind the contract issue but Kamara is going to do what Kamara wants to do to get HIS point across.
It doesn’t matter what your old scrawny Popeye looking ass says.

leilung

So, he just wants an extension and it's not about more $$$? Not buying that, Guido. I mean, how does that even work anyway? By contractural logic, doesn't and extension naturally lead to greater salary consideration? Or are we really expected to believe that AK simply wants to 'retire' in NOLA and he's OK making his current bag?

Is that why he made a show of walking out of practice?