NFL's Low Positional Value May Head To Star Cornerback Staying With New Orleans Saints

After a surprisingly low trade return for Kansas City Chiefs star cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, the likelihood of New Orleans Saints corner Marshon Lattimore being moved may have been lessened.

One of the biggest questions circulating around the New Orleans Saints this offseason has centered around 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year Marshon Lattimore. The star cornerback has been the subject of trade talks since his contract was re-worked back in January. Prior to their final game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, the Saints and Lattimore agreed upon a restructured deal which pushed $13.8 million of his salary in 2024 base salary (originally $15 million) to an option bonus that is set to kick in a week before the regular season begins.

While this did open the door for the Saints to possibly trade Lattimore after June 1, the tone around the situation has been pretty consistent. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis emphasized that the move was nothing more than "cap management" in his end-of-year presser. But now, things have become a bit more specific.

"I haven't said we were going to make a move," Loomis said at this month's league meetings. "No one's made an offer that we can refuse on any player." Whether Loomis intended to say "can" or "can't refuse", the point is the same. The Saints do not seem to have a suitor for a potential Lattimore trade. Either because the league's trade market return is low or because they simply are not looking for one.

The Tennessee Titans recently acquired the Kansas City Chiefs' top cornerback for a measly 2024 seventh-round selection and a 2025 third-round pick. They also had to satisfy him with a new contract, but did so with little hesitation. Across the NFC South division, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded away their starting cornerback Carlton Davis and a pair of sixth-round selections to the Detroit Lions for a 2024 third-round pick. Fairly underwhelming returns in both cases.

Marshon Lattimore

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Whatever the reason for the may be, the possible result of Lattimore remaining in New Orleans this year is a positive one. Especially for a defense that just added a pair of difference-makers in linebacker Willie Gay and edge rusher Chase Young. Keeping the corner trio of Lattimore, Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor is a stroke of good fortune as well. Maintaining continuity among the team's strongest unit.

Things might be a bit more unstable for the New Orleans defense if multiple players in the secondary had to be replaced. No matter what, there will be a new Week 1 starter at safety next to Tyrann Mathieu after veteran safety Marcus Maye was released. But not having to also replace a top cornerback would behoove the team greatly.

Whether or not a trade ends up happening remains to be seen. But with the current tone being used around Lattimore and the pitiful return front offices have now seen from trades at the position, the value of a trade feels far too low to make a move. The Saints should be doing everything in their power to ready themselves and Lattimore for a return to the field together in 2024.