Amid a contract dispute with the New Orleans Saints, running back Alvin Kamara has addressed comparisons between himself and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey recently signed a lucrative extension with the Niners. Kamara expressed his appreciation for McCaffrey but mentioned that he doesn’t focus on comparing his statistics to McCaffrey or anyone else. He stated, “I’m not a stat guy. I don’t stack myself up against other guys. You talk about Christian and all, me and Christian talk. I enjoy watching him play. I enjoy when he’s able to do the things he does. Personally, I enjoy when I’m having success. But I think my message has been the same since I’ve been here … whatever’s asked of me, I just do that.”
Christian McCaffrey had a remarkable season where he led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,023 and total touchdowns with 21, earning him NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. This performance led to a two-year, $38 million contract extension for McCaffrey this offseason. On the other hand, Alvin Kamara signed a five-year, $75 million extension in 2020, keeping him with the Saints until 2025.
Kamara, who recently turned 29, had a less productive year by his standards in the previous season. His 694 rushing yards and 1,160 yards from scrimmage were career lows, with his six total touchdowns matching the second-lowest total of his career. Despite this, there is optimism for a rebound season, especially with the appointment of Klint Kubiak as the offensive coordinator.
Kubiak, who was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator last season, played a significant role in an offense that saw McCaffrey excel. Kamara is excited about Kubiak’s arrival, citing the success of past offenses he has been a part of, particularly in utilizing players like McCaffrey. With Kamara’s history of strong receiving stats, there is hope that he could thrive under Kubiak’s leadership.
If Kamara can replicate McCaffrey’s success from last season, he could be in line for a significant new contract. However, given the recent dip in Kamara’s production, there may be risks involved in renegotiating his deal at this point. Despite being a five-time Pro Bowler, Kamara has not reached 1,000 rushing yards in a season and has not scored double-digit touchdowns in the past three seasons. With Kubiak potentially transforming the offense to suit Kamara’s strengths, there is a possibility for a resurgence in his numbers and impact on the field.