Marshon Lattimore

Trade Rumors: Slayton, Lattimore, Broncos

November 5th, 2024 at 1:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumblings about the Steelers pursuing both Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton surfaced days before the deadline. While no real traction has come out regarding Sutton — one of the NFL’s 2020s trade-rumor pillars — Slayton is still in play to be moved. The Giants wide receiver indeed came up during a Steelers push that concluded with a Mike Williams addition, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noting Pittsburgh “took a hard look” at the sixth-year New York pass catcher.

Slayton has shown ability as a deep threat in the Big Apple, helping the Giants after a few of their past WR plans have gone awry. We are in crunch time for Big Blue regarding a trade of either Slayton or Azeez Ojulari, with the deadline looming in less than two hours. Slayton is finishing up a two-year, $12MM deal but is attached to barely $1MM in remaining salary. The Giants keeping Slayton would open the door to a potential compensatory reward if he leaves as a 2025 free agent.

Here is the latest from the trade market:

The Ravens also explored a trade for Marshon Lattimore, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Chiefs and Chargers joined the Commanders in being in on the Pro Bowl cornerback, but a three-pick package sent him to Washington. Baltimore has Marlon Humphrey and used a first-round pick on Nate Wiggins. Pro Football Focus, however, has graded boundary starter Brandon Stephens 95th overall at the position this season. Lattimore, his injury trouble notwithstanding, would have been an upgrade on Stephens in a Humphrey-fronted position group. Both Lattimore and Humphrey entered the NFL as 2017 first-round picks.
Although the Broncos are likely to see another deadline pass without dealing Sutton, some around the league are wondering about Javonte Williams‘ status. The fourth-year back has not quite looked the same since his ACL and LCL tears in 2022, though he has produced at points for this year’s 5-4 team. Still, execs are wondering about Williams’ trade availability, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, due to rumors Denver is planning to give rookie Audric Estime a bigger workload. Estime, however, has fumbled twice — despite logging only 15 carries. Williams has also lost two fumbles, and given his form since the injury and Estime being signed through 2027, teams may be touching base with the Broncos about their contract-year RB.
Rodney McLeod does not want to be part of a Browns exodus. Announcing before the season he intends to retire, McLeod said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) he does not want to be moved off the 2-7 team’s roster. “I’m riding with this team,” McLeod said. “I’m in the boat. I’m not looking to escape.” The Browns have traded Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith and cut Quinton Jefferson. They may well be done for the day, however, with Fowler adding talks about other players have not produced a deal.

Commanders Acquire Marshon Lattimore From Saints

November 5th, 2024 at 12:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders’ push to add Marshon Lattimore has resulted in an agreement. The veteran corner is headed from New Orleans to Washington, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal is now official.

The Saints had been asking for a Day 2 pick in the 2025 draft, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. An agreement on that front has now been reached, and Lattimore will be on the move for the first time in his career. The four-time Pro Bowler had spent seven-plus seasons in New Orleans. He will be eligible to return to the Superdome on December 15 when the two teams meet.

Here is the full breakdown of the trade terms, courtesy of veteran insider Josina Anderson and ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Commanders receive:

Lattimore
Fifth-round pick

Saints receive:

Third-round pick
Fourth-round selection
New Orleans’ original sixth-rounder exchanged in the John Ridgeway trade

Pelissero’s colleague Tom Pelissero notes all picks being swapped are for the year 2025. New Orleans will look to restock at a few positions this spring, with cornerback likely being one of them. Lattimore had served as a full-time starter during his tenure with the team, and Paulson Adebo – who is out for the year with a broken leg – is a pending free agent. Multiple new starters could be added in the secondary as a result.

A report from earlier today indicated talks on the Lattimore front were heating up, and multiple teams were believed to be in play. Among them were the Commanders, whose approach to the deadline has no doubt been influenced by the team’s surprisingly strong start to the 2024 campaign. Washington sits atop the NFC East at 7-2, and adding in the secondary could aid the team’s chances of remaining on track for a home postseason game. Lattimore is not strictly a rental, however.

The former Defensive Player of the Year adjusted his contract this offseason, something which has been commonplace for years in New Orleans with the team constantly in need of cap relief. Lattimore is only owed the remainder of his $1.21MM base salary for this season, a figure the Commanders can easily afford. For the 2025 and ’26 campaigns, though, he is due a total of $36.5MM. Much of that comes in the form of non-guaranteed base salaries which, coupled with modest option bonuses, have him on track for major cap hits in each of the next two years.

An adjustment will therefore be likely upon arrival in Washington or at least after the current season is over. In the meantime, Lattimore will provide the Commanders with an impact defender capable of aiding the their secondary. That unit has had plenty of room for improvement for some time now, especially with last year’s first-round investment in Emmanuel Forbes not panning out. His market is being gauged ahead of this afternoon’s deadline, and it will be interesting to see if a deal is worked out now that Lattimore is headed to the nation’s capital.

In any case, the likes of Benjamin St-Juste and second-round rookie Mike Sainristil will now have a new contributor alongside them in the Commanders’ secondary. Washington already ranks fifth against the pass this season, but the team sits mid-pack in total and scoring defense and has recorded only three interceptions. Lattimore has just two picks since the start of the 2022 campaign, but his previous ball production could add a key element to his new team’s defense.

The Commanders’ pursuit of a starting-caliber corner included calling the Jets about D.J. Reed, Russini reports. To little surprise, they were told the pending free agent is not available with New York still eyeing a run at the postseason in 2024. Washington’s contingency plan has resulted in a notable deal, though, and Lattimore could help the team remain among the NFC’s best teams through the second half of the year.

Commanders, Chargers Among Suitors For Saints’ Marshon Lattimore

November 5th, 2024 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Marshon Lattimore remains a name to watch closely as the Saints face the possibility of dealing away their high-profile corner. The Chiefs have already been connected to pursuing a trade, but they are not alone in that regard.

The Commanders are a “real contender” to land the four-time Pro Bowler, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. Washington has recently been linked to an addition at the cornerback spot, so today’s update comes as little surprise. The NFC East leaders rank outside the top 10 in total and scoring defense, so adding on that side of the ball would make sense. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds the Commanders have made a “hard push” on the Lattimore front.

Washington is gauging the market for 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes, who has not lived up to his draft stock so far. A different regime (head coach Dan Quinn, general manager Adam Peters) is in place than the one which selected him, a factor which often comes into play when young players are dealt. Trading away Forbes would open up a roster spot for Lattimore, although other moves could obviously achieve that goal. In any case, the Commanders could stand to add to a secondary which is led at corner by Benjamin St-Juste and second-round rookie Mike Sainristil.

Rapoport’s report notes at least two suitors beyond Kansas City and Washington are likely in play; indeed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s latest Pat McAfee Show appearance lists four teams in the contender category (video link). The Chargers are among them, he adds. Los Angeles’ defense has seen a dramatic turnaround this season under head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, with the unit leading the league in points allowed (12.6 per game). Adding a corner of Lattimore’s caliber would give the team a notable boost in the secondary.

The former Defensive Player of the Year remained mainly healthy through his first five seasons. Since then, however, injuries have been an issue, one which contending teams have taken into account while contemplating a potential deal. A third-round pick was floated earlier today as a possible price to get a deal over the finish line, and Schefter concurs capital in that vicinity is likely in play. He adds a deal is likely to be finalized given the advance nature of talks and the multitude of suitors vying to acquire Lattimore.

New Orleans sits at 2-7 on the year, making them an obvious seller’s candidate. Especially with head coach Dennis Allen no longer in place, it would come as no surprise if Lattimore were to be moved. Term remains on his contract, one which will likely be restructured by an acquiring team.

Trade Talks On Saints’ Marshon Lattimore Intensifying

November 5th, 2024 at 10:52am CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints have moved on from head coach Dennis Allen, although that decision is not expected to pave the way for a mass sell-off of veterans ahead of today’s trade deadline. One name in particular remains the subject of considerable attention, however.

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore once again finds himself as a trade target. As the deadline approaches, veteran insider Josina Anderson reports talks are “warming up,” adding that multiple suitors are in play. A high third-round pick could be sufficient in this case, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleansFootball.com. A report from this past weekend named the Chiefs as a suitor for the four-time Pro Bowler.

Kansas City has already added on offense (receiver DeAndre Hopkins) and defense (edge rusher Josh Uche) in advance of the deadline. The defending champions improved to 8-0 last night, so they represent an obvious candidate to make further moves over the coming hours. Kansas City could use a starting-caliber corner with Jaylen Watson unlikely to return this season.

Lattimore’s Saints future has long been a talking point, and in the build-up to the draft teams were aware he was on the market. In the end, New Orleans elected to keep the 28-year-old in the fold (although a trade was contemplated). Having received an option bonus just before the start of the year, Lattimore is only owed the outstanding portion of his $1.21MM base salary in 2024.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is also under contract for the 2025 and ’26 seasons as one of many Saints who have been involved in cap-related financial adjustments. Lattimore is due base salaries of $16MM and $16.5MM for those years, but none of that compensation is guaranteed. On March 20 of next year (as well as the one after), he is due a $2MM roster bonus, though. That, along with scheduled cap hits of $31.41MM and $28.56MM, make his pact one in need of further alterations in the event a trade were to be worked out.

Lattimore has spent his entire eight-year career with the Saints, starting all 97 of his appearances. The Ohio State product has dealt with multiple injuries in recent years, a factor which potential suitors are taking into account. Nevertheless, he could provide effective play in coverage for any number of teams looking for a boost in the secondary. Teams have until 3:00pm central to finalize a trade involving Lattimore or any other players the 2-7 Saints could be willing to part with.

Chiefs Among Teams Interested In Saints CB Marshon Lattimore; KC Also Targeting Another WR?

November 3rd, 2024 at 10:39pm CST by Rory Parks

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.

Saints GM Mickey Loomis Talks Deadline Approach

October 30th, 2024 at 8:58pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints have dropped six-straight games and sit towards the bottom of the NFC standings. The team would be a logical seller ahead of the deadline, and the front office is willing to consider trades…on their terms.

During an appearance on WWL Radio this week, GM Mickey Loomis acknowledged that the Saints have received calls from potential buyers. However, the executive cautioned that the Saints have generally received “undervalued offers.”

“When you’re in a losing streak, you’re calling those teams looking to see if they’re sellers, right, and so we’ll get a number of calls and we’ll respond accordingly,” Loomis said (h/t Jeff Nowak of the station’s website). “I’m not really one who thinks that trading away half your roster makes a lot of sense at this point for, generally, what I think are undervalued offers.”

This could be some natural gamesmanship from Loomis with the trade deadline less than a week away. The Saints have some obvious trade candidates, including Marshon Lattimore and his impending team option. The veteran cornerback has seemingly been on the block for the past year, and with his 2025 status in doubt, the team may finally decide to move on. The Saints also have impending free agent edge rusher Chase Young, who was involved in a trade during last year’s deadline.

On the flip side, the Saints could sincerely be hoping to build some momentum as they look towards the 2025 campaign. Derek Carr is set to return to the Saints for the first time since Week 5. The veteran QB guided the Saints to their Week 1 and Week 2 victories, but he was also under center for their three subsequent losses. Carr’s return should provide a small spark to the organization, but he shouldn’t be expected to single-handedly turn around the team’s fortunes.

Injury Notes: Bears, Walker, Murray, Bosa

September 11th, 2024 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears got good news surrounding the knee injury that knocked Rome Odunze out of Sunday’s season opener. Per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the rookie wide receiver suffered a Grade 1 knee sprain, the “best-case scenario” for the team and player.

Odunze suffered his MCL injury while blocking for Velus Jones Jr. during a fourth-quarter screen pass. The rookie stayed in the game for one additional play before exiting for good. The wideout is officially considered week-to-week, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and there’s been no indication that the ninth-overall pick will have a stay on injured reserve. Coach Matt Eberflus said the Bears were “lucky” to avoid a serious injury, and he even kept the door open to Odunze playing in Week 2.

Wednesday’s injury report also showed that fellow receiver Keenan Allen didn’t practice while nursing a heel injury. Eberflus later clarified that the wideout was considered day-to-day, and there’s hope the offseason acquisition can hit the practice field on Thursday and Friday following his day off.

In the unlikely event that both Odunze and Allen are sidelined, the Bears’ deep wide receiver grouping will be down to just D.J. Moore. Rookie QB Caleb Williams is certainly hoping for his full arsenal of wideouts following an NFL debut where he completed only 14 of 29 pass attempts for 93 yards.

More injury notes from around the NFL…

Kenneth Walker left Sunday’s game with an oblique injury and didn’t practice on Wednesday, per the Seahawks‘ injury report. Mike Macdonald said the running back is day-to-day (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson), but another missed practice would obviously put the player’s Week 2 availability in doubt. Walker exited the season opener after compiling 103 rushing yards and one touchdown. Zach Charbonnet finished the game at running back, scoring a 30-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Kyler Murray was a full participant at today’s practice, but the Cardinals QB still showed up on the injury report with a knee injury. Murray, of course, suffered an ACL injury during the 2022 campaign, and 2024 represented his first healthy offseason in a few years. Murray didn’t miss a snap on Sunday, and it seemed like his knee was in good shape after he ran for 57 yards. Clayton Tune is the only other QB currently on the active roster.
The Chargers announced that Joey Bosa was a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice while dealing with a back injury. The pass rusher appeared in 60 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in Week 1, collecting a sack and a forced fumble along the way. The long-time Charger has been snake bitten by injuries over the past few years, missing 20 total games.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport passes along a list of other notable players who didn’t practice on Wednesday, including Bengals receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring), Chiefs receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder), Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle), Packers quarterback Jordan Love (MCL), and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip/hamstring).

Saints CB Marshon Lattimore Expected To Be Ready For Week 1

August 18th, 2024 at 12:47pm CST by Rory Parks

In the wake of the trade rumors that swirled around Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore earlier this offseason, head coach Dennis Allen addressed that speculation with Lattimore and made it plain that his star defender would remain in New Orleans in 2024. Lattimore has been contending with a hip injury in training camp, but according to Nick Underhill of NewOrelans.Football, the 28-year-old corner has been intensifying his work in recent practices. Though he was still working off to the side with trainers at the time of Underhill’s report, Lattimore is expected to be ready for Week 1.

The trade chatter surrounding Lattimore picked up after the Saints restructured the four-time Pro Bowler’s contract in February. That restructure converted much of Lattimore’s 2024 base salary into an option bonus as opposed to the more common signing bonus, and the option does not trigger until one week before the start of the regular season. As such, if Lattimore were to be dealt before that day, the bonus would become the responsibility of the acquiring team and would not result in additional dead money on New Orleans’ cap.

While the Saints reportedly did explore the possibility of a trade, which jibes with reports that rival clubs considered Lattimore to be on the trade block, Allen’s subsequent remarks shut down that talk. And given that New Orleans has playoff aspirations in 2024, keeping a high-end corner around rather than selling low on him after he missed the final seven games of the 2023 season due to an ankle injury is a perfectly reasonable approach.

Unfortunately, Lattimore’s injury woes last year followed a 2022 campaign in which he missed 10 games due to a lacerated kidney. In the five seasons prior to that, however, he played in at least 13 contests each season, hitting the 16-game threshold twice. During that time, he established himself as one of the league’s top corners and earned Pro Bowl acclaim in three consecutive years from 2019-21.

Assuming he remains healthy and returns to that level of performance, the Saints have a relative bargain on their hands. Although the five-year, $97.6MM deal Lattimore signed in September 2021 has been restructured multiple times, the Ohio State product remains under club control through 2026 and is due a base salary of $16MM in 2025 and $16.5MM in 2026 (to go along with $2MM roster bonuses in both years). Given the current state of the CB market, that is not an overly steep price to pay for an elite boundary defender.

Latest On Saints, Marshon Lattimore

May 24th, 2024 at 12:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dennis Allen continues to respond in the affirmative when asked if Marshon Lattimore will be part of the 2024 Saints. The third-year New Orleans HC kept this trend going from OTAs this week.

Trade rumors have persisted, after teams checked in on Lattimore earlier this offeason. This led to Allen discussing the rumors with the Pro Bowl cornerback earlier this month. Lattimore’s thrice-restructured contract — a $19.4MM-per-year deal — runs through the 2026 season.

“I just thought it was something we needed to communicate,” Allen said, via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell, upon noting Lattimore will be a Saint this season. “There’s been a lot of talk outside our building about trades and things of that nature. And so I just felt like it was probably time that he and I had a conversation. … It was a positive conversation and we’re looking forward to getting him out when he’s here and working with him.”

Lattimore, 28, did not show for the first batch of Saints OTAs. Allen said he has not been in the building this offseason, indicating his recent conversation with Lattimore was the parties’ first in a while. Though, missing voluntary workouts is not an atypical development for the talented defender. That said, the seven-year veteran is coming off two injury-plagued seasons.

Lattimore went down with an ankle injury and missed the Saints’ final seven games. He missed 10 due to a lacerated kidney in 2022, though the Saints did not place the former All-Pro on IR that year. While Lattimore did land on IR in 2023, NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan notes internal frustration came about at the pace the veteran CB recovered from each injury. This concern undoubtedly rankled Lattimore’s camp.

Availability issues already severed the Saints’ relationship with Michael Thomas, though the team gave the former All-Pro wideout a few chances to bounce back. Lattimore is three years younger than Thomas and has a more recent history of playing at a high level. The Saints, however, traded up for Kool-Aid McKinstry in the draft and have rookie-contract corners Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor on the roster.

The Saints’ latest Lattimore restructure made his contract more tradeable, as it lowered his 2024 salary cap number (to $14.62MM) by inserting option bonuses. Rather than using a signing bonus as a conversion tool, New Orleans introducing option bonuses here would make those another team’s responsibility if Lattimore is traded. The deal now contains $13.79MM in options bonuses prorated over the next five years.

Similar to the Packers’ final arrangement with Aaron Rodgers, Lattimore’s 2024 option bonus — which is worth just $2.76MM — does not have to be exercised until a week before the season. While that structure certainly leaves the door open for a trade, nothing is imminent. If Lattimore is dealt after June 1 this year, the Saints would take on only $10.65MM in dead money.

Even as trade rumors swirl involving a boundary corner with four Pro Bowls on his resume, Duncan views a Lattimore trade as highly unlikely. Barring a monster offer, the Saints will be expected to give the Ohio State alum another shot to stay healthy and rejoin Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu as veteran presences on Allen’s defense. This still may be a situation to monitor, but for now, it does not appear Lattimore is too close to being moved.

Latest On Saints, CB Marshon Lattimore

May 20th, 2024 at 12:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Marshon Lattimore‘s name has frequently been mentioned in trade talk this offseason, but no deal has been worked out. As OTAs begin around the league, including in New Orleans, the Pro Bowl cornerback appears set to remain in place for the coming season.

When speaking at the Saints Hall of Fame charity golf tournament, head coach Dennis Allen said he spoke with Lattimore recently and that the sides are “moving forward” (video link via New Orleans Football Network). Allen described his discussion with the former Defensive Rookie of the Year as a “positive conversation,” an encouraging sign for his future with the team.

Lattimore’s contract was restructured this offseason, and he now has an option bonus due one week before the start of the campaign. That timing led to speculation a trade could be in the cards, and ahead of free agency teams began showing interest. At the draft, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis confirmed the team contemplated a trade. Lattimore is still seen as a core member of New Orleans’ defense, though, which he has been since arriving in the NFL.

The former first-rounder has started all 90 of his games, and he recorded double-digit pass deflections in each of his first five seasons with the Saints. Injuries have limited Lattimore to just 17 games across the past two campaigns, but he remains on the books for three more seasons. He is set to carry a cap hit of $14.62MM in 2024, a reasonable enough figure for an acquiring team to take on in a trade. After that, however, his cap numbers are scheduled to spike to $31.41MM and $28.56MM. Lattimore is due salaries of $16MM and $16.5MM in 2025 and ’26, but they are not guaranteed.

Allen did not specify whether or not he expects the Ohio State product to take part in the Saints’ upcoming OTAs. Especially if he does, though, it would be an indication he is prepared to continue his career in New Orleans, matching the team’s desire on that front.

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