Both Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook signed new deals with their current franchises earlier today. Two of the elite running backs added five more years to their present agreements.
Both the teams and the players benefited from today’s arrangements. The Saints and the Vikings secured themselves superb weapons for the seasons to come, while on the other side, both athletes cashed in their current worth.
Kamara inked a five-year extension, which will bring him $75 million, with $34.4 guaranteed. That is an enormous increase compared to his 2020 salary, which is $2.376 million.
Even though he established himself as one of the best in his position, the Saints wouldn’t offer him an extension until he skipped four days during the training camp. At one point, there were rumors that the franchise from the Big Easy wanted to trade the 25-year old. After reconsidering that move, the management decided to keep the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year who has been magnificent ever since coming out of college.
Kamara was a Pro Bowler in all three seasons, and was the second-team All-Pro in the rookie year. He posted 2,408 rushing yards in 45 appearances and 27 TDs on the ground. Meanwhile, the Saints versatile RB recorded 2,068 receiving yards and 10 TDs. Sean Payton used him as a returner. Kamara was solid in that aspect of play too, 585 yards and a TD, that one for 106 yards.
Meanwhile, after losing Stefon Diggs, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t want to gamble with Dalvin Cook’s future. Vikes gave him a five-year $63 million extension, with a $15.5 million signing bonus and $28.2 million guaranteed.
Cook exploded last year with 1,135 yards on the ground, and 13 TDs, becoming Minnesota’s leading force. Apart from that, he had 519 receiving yards. That earned him a Pro Bowl invitation, and a place in the elite echelon of NFL‘s running backs. With 118.1 yards from scrimmage per game, he was the second-most productive offensive player in the league.
In 29 games played for the Vikes, Cook collected 2,104 rushing and 914 running yards, all that for 19 TD combined.
Minnesota meets Green Bay Packers in the season opener and a divisional derby. The two teams are the biggest candidates for clinching the division, and even though their first meeting comes in Week 1, it could decide a lot of things at the end of the season.
He too, revealed a wish for a new contract ahead of this season, and the team eventually listened to its star.