June 2nd is officially here, increasing the odds of a Marshon Lattimore trade. For those unfamiliar with the workings of the NFL salary cap, teams can trade a player after June 1st and spread the dead money on said player’s contract over two years. This effectively means that teams can more easily create cap space and incentivize moves in what would otherwise be the dead part of the offseason.
Several reliable reporters have covered the possibility of a Marshon Lattimore trade for months now, but nobody expected it to happen before June 2nd. According to OverTheCap, trading Lattimore early in the offseason would’ve resulted in a loss of $16.6 million in much-needed cap space. However, now New Orleans can clear just south of $4 million in cap space, so Lattimore’s days with the team could be coming to an end. According to Bleacher Report‘s Matt Holder, the Jaguars could make a move for the veteran.
Jaguars, Saints Could Agree to Marshon Lattimore Trade
Marshon Lattimore is not the player he used to be, but the trade target should improve a struggling Jaguars secondary. After failing to make the playoffs in 2023, Jacksonville watched as top cornerback Darious Williams signed with the Los Angeles Rams and the Houston Texans brought in star wide receiver Stefon Diggs. With C.J. Stroud looking like the real deal, Jacksonville needs a cornerback capable of slowing down elite passing attacks if they want to win the division.
Of course, Jacksonville won’t be the only team interested in a Marshon Lattimore trade. There aren’t enough good cornerbacks to go around in today’s pass-happy NFL and Lattimore could be a key contributor for a few contenders or could help solidify some rocky secondaries throughout the league.
Possible Destinations
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have yet to find a proper replacement for L’Jarius Sneed. Trent McDuffie is more than capable of locking down an opponent’s best receiver, but somebody will need to step up on the opposite side. Perhaps Joshua Williams is up for the challenge, but a Marshon Lattimore trade will provide some much-needed security to the position. Seeing as the Chiefs share a conference with elite quarterbacks in Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and C.J. Stroud, Kansas City could use all the secondary help they can get.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans expedited their rebuild after Stroud established himself as the real deal. In addition to trading for Stefon Diggs, the team unloaded the Brink’s truck for big-name defensive players along the front seven. While this team has the talent to make some noise in the postseason, they largely ignored the secondary. A Marshon Lattimore trade would shore up their biggest weakness and make them a genuine threat to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders had the worst defense in the league last year, and it wasn’t particularly close. While first-year head coach Dan Quinn and his army of free agent signings should help, they didn’t fix every flaw on the roster. 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes had a season to forget, finishing the year PFF’s 112th-best corner out of 127 eligible players. A Marshon Lattimore trade won’t turn this unit into the 2013 Seahawks, but it should be enough to put less pressure on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh entered 2023 facing the unenviable task of trying to clean up Brandon Staley’s mess. While he rebuilt the offense in his image, he has yet to do much on the defensive side of the ball. Even with an elite quarterback in Justin Herbert, the Chargers will need a better defense if they want to make the playoffs. A Marshon Lattimore trade will help slow down opposing passing attacks. The improved coverage should allow the pass-rushing trio of Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, and Tuli Tuipulotu to get after the quarterback more frequently.
New England Patriots
Even though Bill Belichick is gone, his scheme will live on with head coach Jerod Mayo running the show. The Patriots run man coverage more than just about any other team, but they lack the cornerback talent to pull that off in 2024. Christian Gonzalez looked like the real deal during his truncated rookie season, but the Patriots could use a reliable starter on the opposite side of the field. Marshon Lattimore is an ideal choice for the job and the trade candidate should give New England one of the better defenses in football.
Main Photo: Robert Scheer – USA Today Sports
