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One of the drawbacks of having one of the best NFL drafts in history is that everyone will start to get expensive all at the same time. Such is the case with the New Orleans Saints and the class of the 2017 NFL Draft, the draft class that produced both the offensive and defensive rookies of the year.
The 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Alvin Kamara, is now eligible for a contract extension, and Mike Triplett for ESPN.com made his bold Saints prediction that Kamara could hold out the majority of the 2020 offseason:
Kamara has not announced any plans to do this. But it feels like a no-brainer since he is heading into the final year of a supremely discounted rookie contract (he was a third-round pick). Perhaps the Saints will pay Kamara quickly, like they did with wide receiver Michael Thomas last summer. But agreeing on Kamara’s market value could prove more difficult since there aren’t many perfect comparisons for him and since all NFL teams wrestle with how much to pay their backs.
Kamara is obviously in-tune with this situation as well, acknowledging the possibility of getting a new contract:
Has #Saints RB Alvin Kamara thought about his contract situation? “We'll see what gets done. I'm obviously in my third year of my rookie contract, so we'll see. Might be something going on.” More on RapSheet + Friends: https://t.co/morHYvWW0u
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 29, 2020
But in addition to Kamara, and the Defensive Rookie of the Year Marshon Lattimore, the Saints also drafted Ryan Ramczyk in an absolutely stacked draft class. And it’s the latter in Ramczyk that could be the next important domino to fall for contract extensions.
Sean Payton was asked about Alvin Kamara's contract situation on First Take. He immediately brought up that New Orleans has to pay Ryan Ramczyk soon before saying they'll handle negotiations with AK.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) January 30, 2020
Ramczyk wouldn’t come cheaply - likely significantly more expensive than a contract extension for Kamara - but Ramczyk is worth it. But if Mickey Loomis and the Saints front office would be waiting for a Ramczyk extension before negotiating with Kamara, it very well could end with Kamara holding out into start the 2020 season.