The regular season is almost here, but there is still time for a potential Marshon Lattimore trade. Or, at least, that’s what Bleacher Report‘s Alex Ballentine believes, as the NFL analyst recently penned an article about seven players who could be dealt before roster cuts. Teams must reduce their rosters to the 53-man limit by Tuesday at 4 PM EST, and Ballentine believes that New Orleans could receive “at least a third-round pick” for the four-time Pro Bowler.
Ballentine makes this assertion based on the return Kansas City received in the L’Jarius Sneed trade. However, this might be an oversimplification. While Sneed required a new contract at the time of his trade, the two-time Super Bowl champion is better, younger, and healthier than Marshon Lattimore. New Orleans probably won’t get a third for his services, but if they trade the cornerback for a lesser return, the Chiefs and Chargers could be logical landing spots.
Chiefs, Chargers Could Trade For L’Jarius Sneed
The Chiefs did not want to part ways with L’Jarius Sneed, but they had no way to pay him and superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones. Kansas City still has superstar Trent McDuffie, but they could use another cornerback in case Joshua Williams cannot handle an increased role. The Chiefs will go as far as Patrick Mahomes and the offense can take them, but they wouldn’t have won the Super Bowl last year without their impressive defense. Marshon Lattimore might not be the player he once was, but a trade for the former first-round pick would still improve this team.
As mentioned earlier, the Saints received a 2025 third-round pick for Sneed while saying goodbye to his $19.8 million cap hit. A Marshon Lattimore trade, meanwhile, would likely cost less than a third-round pick and will only carry a $10.6 million cap hit. When factoring in the financial savings, Kansas City might end up with a better value and net a better draft pick.
Defensive Help In Los Angeles
Jim Harbaugh is an old-school football coach trying to bring his specialized style to the Los Angeles Chargers. While the former Michigan head coach revamped the offense around the offensive line and running game, he still has some work to do on defense. While Brandon Staley’s poor scheme actively made the unit worse, Harbaugh still needs to add more talent to the defensive side of the ball. With a reliable pass rush led by Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, the Chargers could trade for Marshon Lattimore to secure the secondary.
The AFC West has some of the best wide receivers in football. Davante Adams is still a star, Courtland Sutton is coming off a 10-touchdown season, and of course, the Chargers also face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs twice a year. While quarterback issues could hurt the Raiders and Broncos, Kansas City will have one of the best passing attacks in the game. Justin Herbert is phenomenal, but he can’t keep up with Kansas City’s offense with the Chargers underwhelming offensive weapons. A Marshon Lattimore trade could show Kansas City’s offense just enough to give Herbert and the offense a fighting chance when these two teams face off.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina – USA Today Sports
