Saying "I want to get paid" and holding out is saying something about his current deal.

Of course Kamara would like to play out his current deal. His current deal pays $25 million in 2025. On the open market he might get something like $8 million. So yes, he would play for 3x what any other team would pay him.

And given that $25 million is so ridiculous, and no team would pay him close to that, of course he would be 'generously' willing to reduce that a little in return for more years. Such as $15 million in 2025, 2026, and 2027 or something so he can 'retire a Saint.'

The thing is that Kamara is 29. He is already under contract for a generous $12 million in 2024. He has shown significant signs of decline. If he wants to take less money in 2025 to avoid being cut thats fine, but if he wants guaranteed in 2026 and beyond thats just not realistic. No NFL team is going to guarantee money 2 years out to a RB who will be 31 and is already declining, with no idea whether he will be a viable starter or some sort of late career Kevin Faulk 3rd down role player or simply not needed if he is passed on the depth chart and his replacement turns out to also be a good pass catcher or he is injured.

Kamara is not underpaid. The Saints can cut him at any time if he declines. He is not being wronged and the Saints have nothing to gain in return by giving him more guarantees, unless in return he will play for a salary that is actually a decent deal, say $7 million per year. It would be massively irresponsible to give Kamara big money like $10 million in 2026 or even to partially guarantee anything in 2026 where he walks away with $5 million if cut in the likely scenario where he is not worth that money then. Giving a 29 year old RB an guarantees for years when he will be 31 or 32 or 33 when he is already declining would be financially irresponsible charity.

If Kamara really wants to be with the Saints in 2026, 2027, 2028 there is nothing that prevents him signing year to year deals that are common for 30 something RBs. If he wants guarantees in those years, the most that would be financially responsible would be to give him $5 million player options, kind of Kevin Faulk money, for those years, that he can opt out of if still a starter, in return for reducing his 2025 salary to $10 million or less with at most half guaranteed.

"wanting to get paid" I believe was in reference to "not losing money via fines for missing practice" (which happened during his last deal)

You have made a solid case for NOT signing Kamara, but you've neglected to provide ANY for extending him.

There are many.

Talent. He still has the skills to be a focal point and matchup nightmare.
Leadership. Take away one, extremely poor, mistake in Vegas, he's a leader on this team.
Potential. In this same style offense, McCaffery just had his best year and he's (*gasp) 28 years old.


To me, that's worth a 3 year $21 M with a void year and $15 M guaranteed.

Saves 18 MM in 2025