Alvin Kamara Could Be Screwed in Contract Negotiations With the Saints After Latest 2021 Salary Cap Update

Alvin Kamara will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021. After the Carolina Panthers gave Christian McCaffrey a huge $64 million contract, it's a bold new world for NFL running backs. Kamara's up near McCaffrey as one of the top backs in the league, and he should get pretty huge payout.

However, NFL insider Adam Schefter has suggested a league-wide effect that could wreck Kamara's payday in New Orleans.

Schefter says that with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to rage on, NFL teams could plausibly have to play in front of empty stadiums in 2020. That would cause a massive decrease in profits for each organization, and since salary caps are set based on total revenue, it could force the cap to dip as much as $80 million in 2021.

That kind of hit would drain the New Orleans Saints' coffers. That means when Kamara asks for a big contract, they may counter that they simply don't have the space for a $12 million plus per year running back. Kamara could be stuck asking for money that doesn't exist on their payroll.

It's a shame because Kamara has more than proven his worth to the roster. He had 252 touches in 2019. For reference, Michael Thomas had a total of 275 touches in 2018 and 2019 and locked down a $100 million contract before the start of last season. You would think Kamara should get a prime deal, but if the cap is cut short like Schefter suggests, the team won't have room for everyone.

We already know Kamara is looking for a big long-term contract based on his comments after McCaffrey's deal, but the Saints might have trouble investing that much money in a running back with all of their current contracts on the books in addition to a need at the quarterback position within the next couple of season.