As part of the Saints’ 2024 cap maneuvering, cornerback Marshon Lattimore had his contract restructured. An option bonus is now due one week before the start of the coming campaign, and his base salary has been reduced to $1.2M.
As a result, many have pointed to Lattimore as a potential trade candidate. Indeed, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported last month that it would not come as a surprise if teams kicked the tires on a potential swap.
His most recent update on the matter notes that “several teams” believe the four-time Pro Bowler is in fact on the market. No guaranteed salary remains on Lattimore’s deal, but he is due a $2M roster bonus in 2025 and ’26, the final non-void years of his pact.
The former Defensive Rookie of the Year has a reasonable $14.62M cap hit in 2024, but that figure is set to spike to $31.41M and $28.56M in the following years. Dealing him before June 1 would create a monster dead cap charge, but doing so after that date would spread out the financial penalty ($13.41M) across two seasons while yielding added cap space in 2025.
Given his pedigree, Lattimore would have plenty of suitors, and Fowler names the Lions and Dolphins as teams to watch on the CB market generally speaking.
Detroit in particular has been touted as a buyer with respect to a cornerback addition, and Lattimore would certainly fit the bill. Miami is set to move on from Xavien Howard, although he could be retained on a new deal.
Other teams would no doubt be willing to acquire Lattimore, provided the Saints were prepared to move on from him.
When speaking on the subject, head coach Dennis Allen praised the 27-year-old while coming up short of a firm endorsement of his short- and long-term future.
“Yeah, really, I think it’s about guys that we feel like can help us win football games, guys that we feel like can continue to build the right type of culture here, and guys that are willing to do the things that it’s necessary to do to succeed,” Allen said via NOLA.com’s Matthew Paras. “And so, look, like I said, Marshon’s a part of our football team. He’s been a big part of our football team.”
Allen notably stated that Lattimore is a member of the Saints “for now.” As Nick Underhill and Mike Triplett of New Orleans Football Network add, no final decision on Lattimore’s future appears to have been made, nor is his desire to be traded known. Given the time remaining until the former first-rounder’s bonus is due, clarity on both fronts may not emerge for some time.
Lattimore has remained an impact defender when on the field over the past two seasons. During that span, however, he has been limited to 17 games through injury, and his ball production (two interceptions, 12 pass deflections) has seen a downturn.
Still, the Saints could field numerous offers if Lattimore were to become available, and his status will be a key offseason storyline to follow.
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