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Saints' Cap Creativity: Kamara Clause Unlocks Flexibility
8 Mar
Summary
- Saints are under the 2026 salary cap thanks to contract restructures.
- A unique clause in Alvin Kamara's contract provides flexibility.
- Team has $11 million under the cap with potential dead money accounted for.
The New Orleans Saints have successfully positioned themselves under the 2026 NFL salary cap, an achievement realized through a series of creative contract restructures. As of the legal tampering window opening on Monday, the team is at least $11 million under the cap.
Central to their financial maneuvering is a unique application of a clause within Alvin Kamara's contract. This strategy deviates from standard restructures, offering enhanced flexibility, particularly if the Saints decide to part ways with the running back. This move, along with other restructures, accounts for potential dead money from veteran contracts.
The team's approach this year is less intensive than in 2025, when they needed to clear approximately $60 million. Notably, the Saints also retain over $10.2 million from the previous season to potentially allocate during free agency.
Several players' contracts have been modified to achieve cap compliance. Alvin Kamara's contract was reworked, converting a portion of his salary into an optional signing bonus. Additionally, contracts for Juwan Johnson and Justin Reid underwent standard restructures, pushing cap hits into future years. Potential restructures are also being considered for Chase Young, Cameron Jordan, and Erik McCoy to free up additional space.
