Mark Ingram Re-Signs with Saints: Latest Contract Details, Analysis and Reaction

Mark Ingram has reached an agreement to return to the New Orleans Saints on a four-year deal, the team confirmed via its Twitter account.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was first to report news of the agreement.

Pro Football Talk reported the deal is worth $16 million.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports offered his take on the contract:

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After three seasons playing a secondary role for the New Orleans Saints, Ingram was a much bigger piece of the team's high-powered offense in 2014. He responded in kind, posting career highs in rushing yards, receptions and touchdowns.

Staying healthy has been a bit of an issue. He's only appeared in all 16 games once in his career. It's something that introduces a little extra risk into the equation.

Ingram had previously said he was hoping to remain in New Orleans. Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune passed along comments from the powerful back, who stated NOLA was his first choice, but he was keeping his options open; he said:

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Of course there's always that 'what if you go somewhere and you could be the main guy and do everything,' but I love the Saints and want to be a Saint. We'll see what happens. It's a long process. Free agents can't do anything until March. So we'll see what happens.

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It's a situation free agents often find themselves in.

Luckily for Ingram, he got his wish. By staying with the Saints, the 25-year-old remains in an offense he understands and was able to thrive in last season. There is always a certain comfort level that comes along with that stability.

The Saints are unlikely to become a team that relies solely on one back; the offense has always used multiple options, depending on the package. But Ingram has carved out a larger niche for himself and should see a similar workload in 2015.

Both sides wanted a reunion and were able to work out the financial details to make it happen.