Alvin Kamara, Saints Agree to Reported 5-Year, $75M Contract Extension

Alvin Kamara is going to be with the New Orleans Saints for the long haul.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the running back has agreed to terms on a new five-year, $75 million contract. His deal includes a $15 million signing bonus. 

The Saints confirmed the agreement on Saturday afternoon: 

The 25-year-old has emerged as one of football's most dangerous weapons, with 2,408 rushing yards, 243 receptions for 2,068 yards and 37 total touchdowns in his first three seasons. He's also a three-time Pro Bowler and was the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

In Kamara, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Latavius Murray and Jared Cook, the Saints have one of the best offenses in football. Sean Payton's group has reached the postseason in three straight seasons and heads into the 2020 campaign as a Super Bowl favorite.

But Kamara's ability to have a major impact in the running and passing games makes him so difficult for opposing defenses to defend. That versatility also made him more valuable than a traditional between-the-tackles runner, and it's a skill set Christian McCaffrey also cashed in on.

It's no surprise three-down players have set the running back market in recent years, from pre-injury Todd Gurley (64 catches for 788 yards and six touchdowns in 2017) to McCaffrey.

It was only a matter of time before Kamara inked his own lucrative extension. He's far too explosive and versatile for the Saints to risk losing.