Sources — Saints, Alvin Kamara extremely close to lucrative extension – ESPN

He is heading into the final year of his novice contract, but up until now he and the Saints have been unable to bridge the gap regarding a long-term extension.
Kamara, 25, has an overall of 2,408 hurrying backyards, 2,068 getting lawns and 38 touchdowns in 3 seasons. He has precisely 81 catches in each of his very first 3 seasons– despite missing 2 games in 2015 and being hampered by knee and ankle injuries over the last half of the season.
A source had actually validated that New Orleans was even open to the idea of trading Kamara for a first-round pick in light of his current four-day absence from practice, but the source suggested things had actually cooled down before Kamara returned last Wednesday.
Determining where Kamaras worth lies may eventually show tough, due to the fact that there is a wide chasm in between Christian McCaffreys $16 million per year and Joe Mixons $12 million per year in recent extensions for NFL running backs.
This is not a case in which the Saints are eager to part ways with their three-time Pro Bowler, who was called the NFLs Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 after being drafted in the third round out of Tennessee.
The Saints have actually made a deal that a minimum of programs theyre ready to make a long-lasting commitment to Kamara, despite their salary-cap constraints, due to the fact that of the worth he brings as both a runner and a receiver.
ESPNs Mike Triplett contributed to this report.

Running back Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints are “exceptionally close” to a rewarding contract extension, sources told ESPNs Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
The two sides are wanting to settle a brand-new offer in the next few days that would silence any trade speculation, sources informed ESPN.
Kamara on Monday sidestepped concerns about his contract talks, firmly insisting that his focus is on Sundays season opener versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.