Trade rumors swirled around Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore this offseason, and with the trade deadline just two days away, those rumors are picking up again. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, multiple teams have called New Orleans about Lattimore, including the Chiefs.
Kansas City has already made two notable trades in the last couple of weeks, acquiring WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans and DE Josh Uche from the Patriots. However, both Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) indicate that the defending champions may not be done, with Russini noting that another receiver and a “young, fast corner” are on the club’s wish list.
Lattimore, 28, may not fit the sports world’s definition of “young,” but he is a four-time Pro Bowler who is still playing at a high level. Through seven games in 2024, Lattimore has attained a 71.6 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, the 26th-highest mark in the league out of 110 qualifiers. He has also yielded a modest 69.1 rating to opposing quarterbacks.
The Saints entertained the possibility of dealing Lattimore this offseason before deciding to retain the No. 11 overall pick of the 2017 draft, and they do have him under club control through 2026. As such, it may take a premium package to convince GM Mickey Loomis to pull the trigger, and FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz says it is unclear how interested Loomis might be in a Lattimore trade.
Plus, as Schefter observes, Lattimore’s health could give would-be suitors pause. Lattimore will miss today’s matchup with the Panthers due to a hamstring ailment, which already forced him to miss the club’s Week 2 contest. He also dealt with a hip injury in training camp. So, while Schultz acknowledges that a loss to lowly Carolina – which would drop the Saints to 2-7 – could convince Loomis to make multiple moves, Lattimore may not be one of the players leaving New Orleans.
The Chiefs, for the second year in a row, are winning games with their defense, as star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown just eight TDs against a league-worst nine interceptions. However, KC has lost starting CB Jaylen Watson for the season due to a fractured ankle, and adding Lattimore as a bookend to fellow boundary corner and First Team All-Pro performer Trent McDuffie would further strengthen DC Steve Spagnuolo’s already stout unit, which presently ranks fifth in the league in total defense.
The Chiefs’ WR corps was a weak spot for much of the 2023 campaign, and the club looked to solidify that group by selecting Xavier Worthy in the first round of this year’s draft and adding Marquise Brown in free agency. While Worthy has flashed at times, Brown suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in August, and Rashee Rice was lost for the year with a knee injury in Week 4. A late summer addition, JuJu Smith-Schuster, is battling a hamstring malady, and Skyy Moore recently landed on injured reserve with a core muscle injury. So, even with Hopkins now in the fold, it makes sense that the Chiefs would look for another pass-catcher to help Mahomes and the offense get back on track.
Loomis should jump at the opportunity to get a 2nd/3rd round pick for him. Saints need to get younger and more athletic on both sides of the ball. Gauge interest on Carr and Kamara. 2nd and 3rd round picks are still within the top 150 players in the draft. This is where scouting becomes critical, you can’t miss.
Kamara just re-signed for two years & $24.5 million, and they guaranteed $22+ million. If they trade him before it even starts, I’m pretty sure they have to cover the guaranteed part, so that would be a $22 million hit against next year’s cap, and they’re already way over. I’m pretty sure they can move Carr next year, just not this year.
What’s the point of tying in that the chiefs need for wr?
No more helping KC win. Trade players to another team.
If other teams don’t come with legit offers or commitment from the player a deal won’t get done.
Let’s help KC win, what do the Saints care….lets try again next year starting with a new coach and a rebuilt roster
KC will have to do some major re-structuring if they want to add more people. Thats the key issue is the lack of cap space right now. They couldn’t add Lattimore and another WR if they wanted to unless they start moving money and that’s been something the Chiefs aren’t very fond of doing. They are currently 2.52 million under the cap.
Likely to be fond of it when they win again
The Chiefs are fond of it? Based on what??
They have restructured Kelce’s contract, Chris Jones’ contract and they have restructured Mahomes’ contract THREE times.
They aren’t big on the void years aspect. You don’t see very often with them. They currently only have 2 players with void years and one of them is Mahomes waaaaaaaaaaaay down the road.
Those guys you mention on restructuring, they knew they were going to add years on anyway so it was a no brainer. You think they are going to want to drag Kelce’s deal out yet again after him regressing so much? They probably shouldn’t have done it this past year. Mahomes will probably restructure several more times especially in a year or 2 when over half the league’s quarterbacks are going to be making more than him.