Report: Saints not expected to pick up 5th year option on Mark Ingram
Mark Ingram will enter his fourth season with New Orleans in 2014, and the Saints could ensure the former first-round pick will be around for a fifth season, but it appears the team will allow him to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
Saints do not intend to pick up the 5th year option on RB Mark Ingram. They'v already exercised the '15 option on fellow '11 pick Cam Jordan
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 29, 2014
Ingram has disappointed since being taken 28th overall in the 2011 draft. A toe injury limited him to 11 games and a career-low 386 rushing yards last season.
Ingram did manage to set a career high with an average of 4.9 yards per carry in 2013 and had his first career 100-yard game against the Dallas Cowboys. He followed that up with 97 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ingram is set to make slightly under $1.4 million this season and the fifth-year option wouldn't have seen him earn much more. However, considering his lack of production it's understandable that New Orleans would wait to see how he preforms in 2014 before offering a guaranteed contract.