The Saints Are in a Win-Win Situation With Alvin Kamara Following Christian McCaffrey's Extension

Coming off a down year, Alvin Kamara enters his fourth season with questions surrounding him. Up until this point, the Saints have been wary to extend the running back. Now, the division-rival Panthers have seemingly forced their hand after signing Christian McCaffrey to a record four-year $64 million contract. So what now?

Head coach Sean Payton and Co. have many different options on how to handle the three-time Pro Bowler’s situation: they can trade him, sign him long term, or let his contract expire. Many experts and fans alike think that this will not end well, but if the Saints play it correctly, they can’t lose.

Coming off his worst pro season, everyone knows that Kamara does not warrant a blockbuster contract like McCaffrey, who was an All-Pro in 2019 after a historic campaign. With that being said, the Saints should offer Kamara a contract extension somewhere in between. There's no way Kamara's agent can argue he's worth as much as McCaffrey, especially since Kamara has never logged a 1,000-yard rushing or 1,000-yard receiving season. General manager Mickey Loomis should come to the former Offensive Rookie of the Year with a three-year deal paying him around $36 million. This team-friendly extension allows Kamara to cash in on some guaranteed money after a down year and return to free agency before age 30.

If Kamara does not accept the deal, the Saints should then let him bet on himself in 2020. Trading him won't do much, especially since his value is low at the moment and the Saints need all of the weapons they can get for Brees' potential final season. The versatile running back is due for a bounce-back year, so if he overperforms and earns himself a few more million, it won't be that big of a deal considering Brees, Larry Warford, Sheldon Rankins, Jared Cook and Demario Davis are all coming off the books in 2021, meaning the team will have more cap space to work with.

The ball is in the Saints' court right now and it seems a majority of the potential scenarios could work out in their favor. As for Kamara, he can cash out with a career year, so he'll be betting on himself big in 2020.