New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara took the league by storm back in 2017, and he hasn’t looked back. Even in 2019 — by all accounts a down year for the electrifying runner, plagued by injuries — he still finished second on the team in yards from scrimmage per game (1,330), a blistering clip of 95 yards per game. His participation was key for the Saints offense, and it’s resulted in a bump to his 2020 salary.
The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement ensures proven performance escalators for players who were drafted between rounds three and seven and signed to typical four-year rookie contracts.