The New Orleans Saints are always one of the hardest teams to predict in the offseason. The franchise’s perpetual state of going all-in leads to heavily bloated salary cap numbers, yet they continue to put off the inevitable rebuild by restructuring deals to circumvent the salary cap. They did it last year to sign quarterback Derek Carr to a big contract, but Saints insider Nick Underhill suggests the team might be changing their ways. In a recent article, the longtime beat reporter suggested that the team could look to trade four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
We should note that Underhill’s article is behind a paywall, and to respect that business decision, we will not be pulling quotes from his work. Everything from here on out is pure speculation based on Underhill’s initial report. Nick Underhill is perhaps the most well-connected reporter on the New Orleans beat, and he wouldn’t write an article like this if he didn’t hear that a Marshon Lattimore trade was a distinct possibility. So, let’s take a look at what Lattimore can bring to a franchise and which teams would make the most sense as potential destinations.
Top Insider Suggests The Saints Could Trade Marshon Lattimore
At his best, Marshon Lattimore was one of the top cornerbacks in the game and any team would be willing to trade at least a first-round pick to secure his services. The Ohio State product hit the ground running, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 while making four Pro Bowls during his first five years of NFL action.
However, the past two seasons have not been as good for Lattimore. Injuries have limited him to only 17 games since the start of the 2022 season, and Pro Football Focus suggests he’s starting to slow down. According to their film-based grades, Lattimore was the 56th and 51st-best cornerback in 2022 and 2023, respectively. He’s still a good player, any team looking to trade for Marshon Lattimore will know that he’s not the same lockdown player from years past. So, Saints fans should not expect a Jalen Ramsey type of return for the soon-to-be 28-year-old.
Additionally, New Orleans will not receive too much salary cap relief in a Marshon Lattimore trade. According to OverTheCap, Lattimore’s cap hit is currently $14.6 million. That number jumps to $45.07 if they trade him before June 1st, and lowers to $13.4 million if they wait until after June 1st to make a move. Still, that’s only $1.2 million in savings, so there isn’t much of a financial benefit to doing this. Basically, it’s hard to picture New Orleans making this trade unless they can get a first-round pick or more for his services. Without further ado, here are five teams that might think this is a price worth paying.
Potential Trade Destinations
Buffalo Bills
Following yet another heartbreaking playoff loss, the Buffalo Bills are once again left with an entire offseason to figure out how to make a deep postseason run. Josh Allen is a superstar and played an amazing game, but the rest of the team let him down. Patrick Mahomes went up and down the field with ease, and Buffalo could try to improve their secondary with a Marshon Lattimore trade. 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam has not worked out, so it’s time for Buffalo to look for outside help to secure the cornerback position.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys will get Trevon Diggs back from injury in 2024, but they could also lose Stephon Gilmore to free agency. Despite his age, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year had a strong campaign last year and could earn a sizable paycheck on the open market. If that happens, a Marshon Lattimore trade could be a cheaper option. Jerry Jones is not getting any younger, and Mike McCarthy knows that he needs to bring this team on a deep playoff run to keep his job. Lattimore will help with that, and the trio of Lattimore, Diggs, and DaRon Bland would be one of the best in the league.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game even though their defense is one of the worst in the league. This team struggles to stop the pass, and their cornerback depth chart is one of the worst in the game. With Ben Johnson likely heading off to Washington, the Lions will need to rely on their defense in 2024 if they want to make another deep run. A Marshon Lattimore trade should make this defense far more competitive and help them compete against what should be a difficult NFC North.
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos proved that he’s willing to spend up for a top head coach in Jim Harbaugh. Now, he needs to prove it again with a Marshon Lattimore trade. Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in football, but he can’t singlehandedly carry an entire organization to a deep playoff run. The defense is going to need to start carrying their weight, and the best way to get that to happen is by improving the secondary. This unit couldn’t cover anyone last year, and now it’s time for them to get someone who can help slow the elite offenses of the AFC. The Chargers won’t give up the fifth-overall pick for Marshon Lattimore, but if these two teams can find a way to make a deal work, Los Angeles could make a deep playoff run as soon as next year.
Jacksonville Jaguars
After a promising 2022, the Jacksonville Jaguars were supposed to take a big leap in 2023. That didn’t happen, in large part because the defense couldn’t carry an injured Trevor Lawrence down the stretch. A Marshon Lattimore trade might not solve all their issues, but they’ll need all the cornerback help they can get, seeing as they share a division with C.J. Stroud.
Main Photo: Maria Lysaker – USA Today Sports
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