There was speculation that the New Orleans Saints would consider trading Alvin Kamara this offseason. Those rumors are seemingly going to be put to rest soon. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kamara and the Saints are ‘extremely close' on a long-term extension.
Saints and Pro-Bowl RB Alvin Kamara are “extremely close” to a lucrative new extension that the two sides are hoping to finalize in the next few days, per sources. The deal would silence any recent trade speculation and keep Kamara in New Orleans during the prime of his career.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 8, 2020
During training camp, Kamara was absent for a few days due to an undisclosed reason. While the reason for his absence was uncertain, it was believed to be contract related. Then, just days later, there were reports that the Saints could be interested in trading Kamara for the right price.
However, Kamara has since rejoined the team and has spoken to Sean Payton about his future with the franchise. Kamara, a third-round pick of the Saints in 2017, is entering the final year of his contract.
So far, Christian McCaffrey and Joe Mixon are two of the notable running backs from the 2017 NFL Draft to receive extensions. It was revealed that Kamara was likely looking for a deal that would be him in the same price range as McCaffrey's historic extension.
Most teams prefer to negotiate deals before or after the regular season to prevent any distractions during the season. As Schefter points out, there's a sense that both sides would like to get a deal completed before the season kicks off on Sunday.
Two sides, Saints and Alvin Kamara, both want and need the deal to get done. Players off today, so there’s one window to get done the deal. But it’s coming. All the talk has brought them both to the finish line. https://t.co/yaoCt00Yn3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 8, 2020
Just a season ago, Kamara posted career-lows in scrimmage yards (1,330) and touchdowns (6) while he dealt with multiple injuries. While the Saints hope he bounces back in 2020, they are nearing a deal that would keep him with the organization for years to come.
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