New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram is enjoying the best season of his career. Ingram has topped 100 yards rushing in three straight games, and has 618 yards and a career high six rushing touchdowns in seven games this year.
Ingram is currently making just under $1.4 million with a cap hit of $2.4 million (the last year of his rookie contract). His quality play this year should net him a solid payday as a free agent during the off-season. The question is, will those checks be coming from the Saints?
"There have been no contract talks between the Saints and pending free-agent running back Mark Ingram as he has continued his excellent play after a slow start to his career," wrote CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
"With New Orleans currently carrying $160 million in salary cap commitments for 2015 already (most in the NFL), and the cap projected around $142 million, retaining Ingram will not be easy."
"At this point, it's difficult not to see Ingram...not hitting the open market."
La Canfora explained that the Saints would be reluctant to use the franchise tag on Ingram as it would cost the team roughly $8 million. New Orleans will also still have Pierre Thomas under contract for the next two seasons (less than $3 million cap hit each year) as well as rookie Khiry Robinson, who has looked good when healthy.
San Diego Chargers running back Donald Brown scored a three-year deal worth $10.5 million with $4 million guaranteed this off-season. The Detroit Lions signed Reggie Bush to a four-year deal worth $16 million in 2013. Ingram's contract could fall somewhere in between those two deals.
