The New Orleans Saints put up a good fight, but a seemingly endless string of injuries could force them to embrace a rebuild and trade Marshon Lattimore. After an uncertain offseason, the Saints started the year with two of the most dominant wins you’ll ever see over Bryce Young’s Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys. Despite their strong start, the Saints lost their next four games as injuries piled up. Now at 2-4, the Saints are third in their division and won’t have quarterback Derek Carr back for another three or four weeks.
Rumors surrounded a Marshon Lattimore trade throughout the offseason, as the cash-strapped Saints could clear some much-needed cap space by dealing him to a contender. That didn’t happen in the offseason, as New Orleans decided to see if they could compete in 2024. A healthy version of this team could make a run for the playoffs, but no team can overcome this unfortunate run of pain. With a postseason run unlikely, New Orleans could trade cornerback Marshon Lattimore to a true contender like the Kansas City Chiefs or Washington Commanders.
Saints Could Trade Marshon Lattimore After Humiliating Loss
The Kansas City Chiefs are 5-0 and appear to be cruising towards yet another AFC West title. While they will remain one of the league’s elite teams as long as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are in town, Kansas City could use more reinforcements on both sides of the ball. While most of the attention rests on the Chiefs search for a wide receiver, the reigning Super Bowl champions could also use more help on defense. Trent McDuffie remains elite, and 2022 seventh-round pick Jaylen Watson is making the most of his opportunities. However, today’s NFL requires three starting-caliber cornerbacks, and the Chiefs could reach that threshold with a Marshon Lattimore trade.
After showing promise as a rookie, fourth-round pick Joshua Williams took a major step back through the first five games of the season. Maybe he can turn it around, but a contender like Kansas City shouldn’t place too much faith in a relatively untested player. Marshon Lattimore is not the same shutdown corner he was early in his career, but the trade candidate is still an above-average starter on the outside. Seeing as Kansas City shares a conference with elite teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, and Buffalo Bills, they must add as much talent as possible to ensure a return to the Super Bowl.
The Rising Washington Commanders
After decades upon decades of waiting, the Washington Commanders finally have their franchise quarterback. Second-overall pick Jayden Daniels is the real deal, as the LSU product ranks at or near the top of just about every efficiency metric. However, despite the success, the team is still 4-2 thanks to their atrocious defense. While the unit isn’t quite as bad as last year, they still need some help. 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes was a healthy scratch against the Baltimore Ravens, so a Marshon Lattimore trade could be just what this surprise contender needs.
As things currently stand, the Washington Commanders stand confidently atop the NFC East, but that’s only because of the offense. As great as Daniels is, he’s just a rookie, and he may hit a wall as teams get more film and adjust to his professional strengths and weaknesses. The defense must hold up their end of the bargain if and when this happens, and a Marshon Lattimore trade is the best way to get this done. A franchise quarterback on a rookie deal is the biggest competitive advantage in sports, and Washington must make the most of this window.
Main Photo: Denny Medley – USA Today Sports
