The New Orleans Saints, who spent the week trying to trim $22 million off their salary cap, reached agreement with running back Mark Ingram on a four-year contract Saturday.

The deal is worth $16 million, Pro Football Talk reported.

Ingram, the team’s first-round pick in 2011, finally took command of the starting tailback position in 2014, setting career highs with 964 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Ingram was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday and was considered one of the top running backs available.

Earlier this week, coach Sean Payton said he had spoken with Ingram and expressed hope that the veteran would be back.

The Saints had been working hard to get under the $143.3 million salary cap by the time the league year begins Tuesday. They released veteran running back Pierre Thomas on Thursday and restructured the contract of veteran wide receiver Marques Colston on Friday while also getting defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley to take a pay cut.

Colston was due to make $6.9 million and count $9.7 million against the cap. Bunkley was due $4.4 million, with a cap hit of $6.1 million.

Thomas had signed a two-year, $4 million extension last year and was scheduled to earn $2.1 million next season.

The Saints also reportedly are shopping linebacker Curtis Lofton, who is scheduled to make $7.25 million in 2015, including a $4.5 million roster bonus.