The Saints have re-signed running back Mark Ingram to a four-year deal, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Ingram’s new deal is worth $16MM, according to Pro Football Talk on Twitter.
This deal puts Ingram in the top 20 among running backs on a per-year basis, per OverTheCap, and pushes the Saints further onto the salary cap cliff.
Despite having the worst cap situation in the league at more than $16MM over before Ingram’s second contract was agreed upon, New Orleans will keep the bruising 25-year-old runner who is coming off his best season, one which ended in his only Pro Bowl selection.
Ingram rushed for a career-best 964 yards last season and played a much bigger role in the Saints’ offense at a career-high 226 carries. After not appearing to fit in the Saints’ up-tempo attack for three years, Ingram proved he could be a weapon last season.
The Saints have until Tuesday afternoon when the new league year officially begins to finally get back under the salary cap. New Orleans made moves to do so earlier this week when it restructured the contracts of longtime No. 1 wideout Marques Colston and 2014 free agent prize Jairus Byrd. They still need to trim a substantial amount in less than three days, however. Only two other teams — the Patriots and Chiefs — are over the cap, but those organizations are a beacon of financial restraint compared to the Saints’ current standing (OverTheCap).