The New Orleans Saints’ decision to sign Taysom Hill to a two-year contract extension impacts more than the backup quarterback himself. While it does guarantee Hill will be around in 2021 (likely as the starting quarterback), his new deal sends a ripple effect throughout the roster. One teammate who could feel an immediate reaction: running back Alvin Kamara.
Kamara headlines a star-studded list of Saints free agents in the 2021 offseason, including veterans like Demario Davis, Jared Cook, Larry Warford, and Sheldon Rankins. Kamara can be counted among a group of young talents ready to cash in on their first big NFL contracts, along with Marcus Williams. Contract extensions with depth players and projected starters such as Kiko Alonso, Alex Anzalone, Craig Robertson, and Justin Hardee are also going to be on the docket.
Kamara stands apart from the rest as a prime candidate for receiving the franchise tag. While the number will go up as the salary cap rises and new contracts are signed with star players around the league, the 2020 franchise tag for running backs was valued at a fully-guaranteed $10,278,000. The less-valuable transition tag was worth just $8,483,000, but teams rarely use it because they receive no compensation should the player leave on a new deal with another squad.
Would New Orleans have considered using the franchise tag on Hill? Maybe. That might have led to arbitration hearings in which Hill’s camp could argue about which position he should be considered for the tag’s purposes, whether at quarterback, tight end, or even receiver. He wears more hats than anyone else in the NFL, so that might have gotten dicey. And deciding between Hill or Kamara could have been one really difficult conversation. Now, though, the Saints won’t have to worry about it.
If the Saints have a difficult time hammering out a new deal with Kamara this offseason (or if they simply choose not to try), tagging him in 2021 would be something they consider. The Saints have used the franchise tag before in retaining playmakers like Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, eventually working out long-term extensions with both of them. It’s possible they try that approach again with Kamara, if need be.
It won’t come to that, hopefully. But the rising cost of running back salaries and the uncertain longevity of the position (as well as the Saints’ hesitance to pay skills-position talent) means it might be the only way Kamara plays for the Saints after the 2020 season. New Orleans made a strong effort to re-sign pillars of the team like Cameron Jordan, Michael Thomas, and Wil Lutz last summer. Maybe they’ll make Kamara a similar priority this year.
