New Alvin Kamara Rumors 'Heat Up' amid Contract, Trade, Release Buzz as June Decision Approaches

Alvin Kamara has been with the New Orleans Saints his entire NFL career, but his future is reportedly up in the air with June 1 approaching.

"The team can also save about $14 million after June 1 on a salary cap," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter when discussing New Orleans' options with Kamara. "He's due about $11.5 million, including $3 million guaranteed. So, something has to come to a head.

"I'm told that there hasn't been a lot of traction yet on the Saints' direction with Kamara but there is some interest on potentially coming back there. Maybe they can do a revised deal. Either way, that should heat up close to that deadline."

New Orleans selected the running back with a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, and he has exceeded expectations as a key playmaker throughout his nine-year career.

His resume includes an Offensive Rookie of the Year, five Pro Bowl selections and more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage in eight of his nine seasons. He also led the league in combined receiving and rushing touchdowns in 2020 with 21.

Yet he will be 31 years old during the 2026 campaign and is coming off the worst individual season of his career.

Kamara was limited to 11 games last season and posted career-lows in rushing yards (471), yards per rushing attempt (3.6), catches (33), receiving yards (186) and touchdowns (one). He seemed to lack the explosiveness and overall versatility that helped him become such a dominant playmaker earlier in his career, and the Saints missed the playoffs at 6-11.

New Orleans also signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year deal this offseason, which made Kamara's role unclear for the 2026 season.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis didn't add much clarity when he told reporters earlier this month, "We're just trying to see how he's gonna fit on our roster. Obviously there's a resource management element. We'll get to that over the next week or two."

That "resource management element" could result in Kamara no longer being on the Saints.