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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

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.

Saints Fire HC Dennis Allen

November 4th, 2024 at 10:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

After a seventh consecutive loss, the Saints are making a move on the sidelines. Head coach Dennis Allen has been fired, as first reported by Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

New Orleans started 2-0 in 2024, an encouraging sign for the team’s postseason outlook. Since then, however, little (if anything) has gone according to plan, with the offense suffering multiple injuries and the defense struggling to overcome a number of issues. On Sunday, the Saints lost to the Panthers in unwanted fashion. New Orleans outgained Carolina by a margin of over 150 yards while topping that figure on the ground and winning the turnover battle; over the past 20 years, no team had lost under those circumstances until yesterday (h/t ESPN’s Bill Barnwell).

No one contest is at the heart of any team’s decision to fire a coach, but in the wake of Week 9’s defeat today’s news comes as little surprise. Allen is meeting with the team now, Rapoport adds, and attention will soon turn to the question of who will take over the staff on an interim basis. On that note, Dianna Russini of The Athletic names special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi as a candidate to watch.

The Saints have indeed now named Rizzi as interim coach. The 54-year-old has head coaching experience at the college level, compiling a record of 18-23 with stints at New Haven and Rhode Island. He has been in the NFL since 2010, serving as the Dolphins’ special teams coordinator for nine years while also holding the title of associate head coach for a pair of seasons. Rizzi has been with the Saints since 2019, and since 2022 he has also served as an assistant head coach. New Orleans current sits fifth in special teams DVOA, a rare instance of success in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

Allen’s first head coaching gig saw him take charge of the Raiders for the 2012 and ’13 seasons. Only four games into his third season at the helm, he was dismissed. That was followed by a lengthy stint on Sean Payton‘s Saints staff as the team’s defensive coordinator. Once Payton departed, Allen was promoted and given a second opportunity to lead a staff. It has now ended in very similar fashion to his Raiders tenure, with a midseason dismissal coming down in Year 3. This marks the first in-season coaching change for New Orleans since 1996, when the team canned Jim Mora midway through his 11th season.

In 2022, the Saints posted a 7-10 record, with a strong defensive showing being weighed down by mediocre offensive production. The subsequent offseason was highlighted by Derek Carr‘s free agent signing, a move aimed at providing the team with a stable solution under center in the post-Drew Brees era. The former Raiders Pro Bowler showed improvement down the stretch, and the Saints improved to 9-8. That mark was insufficient for a postseason berth, however, and more significant changes were made on offense in response.

Longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was replaced by Klint Kubiak during the 2024 offseason. The latter’s work in the run game in particular seemed to be on full display over the first two weeks of the year, but success on the ground or through the air has been hard to find since. Overall, New Orleans ranks 16th in total offense and 15th in scoring. The team’s defense – for many years a strength with Allen in place dating back to his time as DC – has regressed considerably, sitting 28th in yards allowed and 26th in scoring.

In the wake of those collective struggles, the Saints will move on in the hopes of sparking a turnaround in the second half of the season. Carr missed time but is now healthy, although New Orleans’ offensive line and receiving corps are both dealing with a number of notable absences. The team’s defense (including cornerback Marshon Lattimore) could become the subject of increased calls before tomorrow afternoon’s trade deadline. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirms, however, that a firesale should be considered unlikely even in the wake of this move.

Carr is owed a $30MM base salary next season, the third of his four-year contract. That figure is set to become guaranteed shortly after the start of the new league year in March, and with the Saints once again on track to face a myriad of cap issues his financial status will be worth watching closely. In addition to the team’s quarterback situation, a head coaching search will be a central storyline in 2025.

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’ Chris Olave Suffers Concussion

November 3rd, 2024 at 7:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

7:25pm: Olave has since been released from hospital, per a team announcement. He took to social media Sunday afternoon to relay he is OK, another positive sign. Still, a fourth concussion in less than three full seasons of play certainly represents a worrying development for team and player.

2:41pm: Chris Olave has already missed one game this season with a concussion, and he is now facing the same injury. The third-year Saints wideout took a hard during Sunday’s contest against the Panthers.

Olave was the target of an incomplete pass over the middle, and he took a hard hit from safety Xavier Woods. Olave was ultimately placed on a backboard and carted off the field before quickly being ruled out with another concussion. The 24-year-old has since been taken to a local hospital, and the CBS broadcast notes he is alert with strong vital signs (h/t team reporter Erin Summers).

During his rookie season, the 2022 No. 11 pick suffered a concussion; he also missed time for that reason last year. In Week 6 of the current campaign, Olave suffered another concussion and was held out of the lineup for the following contest. Now, his time out of the lineup for brain injuries will continue with a Week 10 absence also being likely.

Olave had a strong showing in his debut season, topping 1,000 yards and averaging 14.5 yards per reception. Last season, the Ohio State product took a step forward with a statline of 87-1,123-5. That led to high expectations entering 2024, and Olave has served as New Orleans’ top receiver when healthy. His availability will be key moving forward since Rashid Shaheed is out for the year, an injury which prompted the recent signing of Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Upon returning from his first 2024 concussion, Olave said he gave thought to wearing a Guardian Cap, which he ultimately did not. It will be interesting to see if that approach changes once he is back on the field. In any case, the 2-6 Saints will welcome his return in their bid to return to postseason contention.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/24

November 2nd, 2024 at 7:30pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor NFL moves including standard gameday practice squad elevations for Sunday’s slate of games:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

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.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/24

October 30th, 2024 at 7:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: CB Kendall Williamson

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: DE Shakel Brown

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Signed: OT Garret Greenfield

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: OL Braeden Daniels

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/24

October 30th, 2024 at 7:26pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/24

October 29th, 2024 at 8:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the most recent practice squad transactions from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

The Vikings cut Gaskin from their active roster on Tuesday, but as a vested veteran, he did not need to pass through waivers before re-signing to Minnesota’s practice squad. Gaskin played in the Vikings’ first five games this season, but has not appeared since October 6. His familiarity with the offense could lead to activations from the practice squad if Minnesota needs running back depth.

Herndon will join the Saints after playing in Jacksonville for six seasons, with 83 total appearances and 34 starts for the Jaguars since 2018. The veteran cornerback only started five games over the last two years, but played in 15 games for almost 900 snaps as a rotational member of the Jaguars’ secondary. His experience could lead to quick elevations from the practice squad once he learns the Saints’ defense.

The Commander signed the 30-year-old Hart to give them more depth at offensive tackle. The veteran has 67 starts and 98 total appearances over his eight-year career, though he hasn’t played in the NFL since a 2022 stint with the Bills.

Saints HC Dennis Allen Addresses Losing Streak, Week 8 QB Change

October 28th, 2024 at 1:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

After a 2-0 start, the Saints have seen their season take a nosedive. The team is now on a six-game losing streak, and as such head coach Dennis Allen‘s job security remains a talking point.

Allen entered the league as one of the coaches to watch with respect to being on the hot seat. An unexpectedly strong showing on offense in particular eased concerns on that front early on, but struggles on both sides of the ball have continued in recent games. Sunday’s 26-8 loss did not prompt a new round of direct questions related to Allen’s job status, but he was asked about speaking with the front office as the team attempts to end the skid.

“We have conversations every day, you know what I mean? So I don’t feel any more sense of, having to have these conversations,” Allen said (via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons). “Look, I think we all understand that it’s a results-oriented business. And we need to play better football.”

New Orleans ranks near the bottom of the league in a number of defensive categories, and the team sits 28th in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game. The Saints had a top-10 finish in scoring defense during each of Allen’s first two years as head coach, and the former longtime defensive coordinator was expected to maintain that level of success in 2024. Instead, a multitude of issues have emerged while scoring has also become a problem.

Of course, injuries suffered by quarterback Derek Carr and receivers Chris Olave (who returned in Week 8) and Rashid Shaheed (who will miss the rest of the season) have hindered New Orleans’ offense recently. A quarterback change – from Spencer Rattler to Jake Haener – took place during the third quarter of yesterday’s loss, but the move did not yield an uptick in production. Allen noted he attempted to generate a spark by installing Haener, who was not told of any swap being considered until he was tapped to join the game (h/t Jeff Nowak of Inside Black & Gold) .

The switch from Pete Carmichael to Klint Kubiak raised expectations on offense for the Saints, who sit 16th in scoring. A return to the lineup on Carr’s part – which could happen in Week 9 – would certainly help the team’s chances of ending the losing streak. Doing so would also boost Allen’s chances of retaining his role as his New Orleans record now sits at 18-24.

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