Alvin Kamara showed up to Saints OTA practice on Wednesday. That does not mean his future in New Orleans is any clearer.
Kamara has been the subject of nonstop offseason speculation about his role on the roster, his salary, and his long-term place with the franchise. Head coach Kellen Moore said this week that the team is “getting close” to figuring out the situation, but nobody has confirmed what “getting close” actually means.
Here is what we know. Kamara, 30, is under contract through the 2026 season. He has a $11.5 million salary on the books for this year. He is coming off the worst season of his career: 471 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 186 receiving yards, and zero receiving touchdowns in 11 games. He missed six games with knee and ankle injuries.
The Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency to a four-year deal averaging $11.8 million per year. That signing made Kamara expendable, at least in theory. If Etienne is the No. 1 back going forward, Kamara is either taking a pay cut to be the No. 2 or he is getting cut altogether.
The Saints have a few options to consider. Option one is to release Kamara after June 1 to save cap space and let him hit the market. Option two is to approach him about a pay cut to make the contract more palatable. Option three is to trade him, although his contract and injury history make a trade market thin. Option four is to keep him at his current salary and use him as a complementary back to Etienne.
Kamara has handled the situation with the kind of professionalism you want from a veteran. He had been skipping voluntary workouts earlier in the offseason, which fueled speculation that a divorce was coming. Then on Wednesday, he showed up for OTAs and put in a full day of work.
“It’s a business,” Kamara said when asked about his uncertain status. “I’m going to be ready and we’ll see what happens.”
His agent, Brad Cicala, has been more direct. “We plan on playing for the Saints in 2026,” Cicala told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Sunday. That is the agent telling the world that his client expects to be on the roster when the season starts.
The reality is the Saints need to make a financial decision. Kamara at $11.5 million is too expensive if he is the No. 2 back. Kamara at $5 million on a renegotiated deal is reasonable. Kamara at $0 because the team released him is a saving that gives the Saints cap flexibility.
The bigger picture is that the Saints are in a transition year. New offense, new system, new identity. Mickey Loomis and Kellen Moore are trying to build a roster that can be competitive in 2026 while also setting up for 2027 and beyond. Kamara at his current salary does not fit either timeline.
The historical legacy matters here too. Kamara is one of the most beloved players in Saints history. He has been to multiple Pro Bowls, holds key franchise records, and has been the face of the offense for nearly a decade. Releasing him would be the kind of move that draws fan blowback. Negotiating him into a reduced role is the path that protects both the team’s cap and his legacy.
The most likely outcome is a pay cut. Kamara takes around $5 million for 2026, splits carries with Etienne, and gets one more chance to prove he has something left in the tank. If he produces, both sides are happy. If he does not, the Saints can cut bait without major dead-cap consequences.
The OTA arrival is a positive sign. The full resolution is still coming.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
