New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been the subject of trade rumors for months on end, and they’re only heating up entering the regular season. A four-time Pro Bowler, Lattimore has lost a step since his peak but remains one of the better cornerbacks in the league. When combined with Paulson Adebo and second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry, the Saints currently have one of the deepest cornerback groups in the league.
This depth is so strong, in fact, that the cash-strapped Saints could trade Marshon Lattimore at some point during the season. In a recent article, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report identifies the Jacksonville Jaguars as a potential target, noting that the franchise could receive a third-round pick for his services.
Jaguars, Saints Could Agree to A Marshon Lattimore Trade
At this point last year, most believed the Jacksonville Jaguars would run away with the wide-open AFC South. Trevor Lawrence looked the part of a franchise quarterback after leading a historic playoff comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers, and the rest of the division looked to be in poor shape. Instead, the Jaguars crashed and burned down the stretch, finishing 9-8 while narrowly missing the playoffs. Since then, the rest of the division loaded up on talented playmakers, and Jacksonville could do the same with a Marshon Lattimore trade.
Marshon Lattimore might not have an All-Pro season left in his tank, but the 28-year-old trade candidate still has enough juice to be a reliable starter. Jacksonville’s cornerback depth chart is one of the weakest in football, and that could be a major problem when you share a division with C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Michael Pittman, and DeAndre Hopkins. Trevor Lawrence is good, but he’s not quite capable of matching every other team in a shootout. This defense must improve if they want to go on a deep playoff run, and Lattimore could be the missing piece to this puzzle.
Would The Saints Agree to This?
Chances are, the Saints will not trade Marshon Lattimore before the start of the regular season. Despite all the rumors, New Orleans still wants to try and compete in 2024, and there’s no denying that the present-day Saints are better with Lattimore on the roster. However, the wheels could quickly fall off the wagon, and if that happens, the Saints will probably part ways with one of their top defenders.
The Saints have talented players on the defense, but will it be enough to compensate for what should be a rather underwhelming offense? Derek Carr can succeed in the right environment, but he’ll struggle to do much of anything with the Saints offense in 2024. This offensive line might just be the worst in the league, and Carr is one of the NFL’s worst passers when pressured. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are a reliable duo, but they won’t be enough to offset the subpar blocking. Factor in the mediocre Dennis Allen leading the charge and you’re left with a rather underwhelming team that could deal Marshon Lattimore near the trade deadline.
After years of kicking the can down the road, this could be the season New Orleans finally embraces a rebuild. If that happens, look for New Orleans to trade Marshon Lattimore to the highest bidder, which could easily be the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina – USA Today Sports
