The NFL announced a significant increase in the league’s wage cap for the 2024 season on February 23. However, the New Orleans Saints will remain in a grave cap predicament. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz said that the Detroit Lions may take advantage of New Orleans’ terrible situation and trade for 4-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
The Lions were one of three teams Schatz suggested would be interested in trading for Lattimore this summer.
“Once again, there will need to be a series of cuts and restructures to make it just so the Saints can sign their rookie draft class,” Schatz stated in an email. “One controversial way to get some space might be to move cornerback Lattimore to another team.”
Lattimore’s cap hit for the 2024 season is scheduled at $14.6 million. His cap hit would be substantially higher in the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
However, Lattimore may be less expensive for his acquiring team. The Lions and Saints would have to iron out the actual financial details of the transaction.
Prior to the 2021 season, the Saints signed Lattimore to a 5-year, $97.6 million contract agreement. He’s spent his whole seven-year NFL career in New Orleans.
Why the Saints Could Trade Marshon Lattimore.
The NFL revealed that the wage cap will rise by an extraordinary $30 million or more for the 2024 season. The salary cap for this fall is officially set at $255.4 million per team.
So the Saints aren’t as awful as Schatz claimed (his article was written before the salary cap hike announcement). However, Over the Cap stated that the Saints are still more than $40 million over the salary cap.
According to Schatz, “painful” cuts are coming to New Orleans in one form or another. The Saints could at least get something in return for Lattimore if they traded him.
The Lions have a clear need at cornerback. Lattimore is an intriguing trade target because, with the Saints in such a severe cap situation, the Lions may make an offer that isn’t nearly market value.
New Orleans may have no choice but to accept, unless the franchise decides to make another cut to free up cap space.
Of course, it assumes the Lions are the only team interested in trade for Lattimore.
Following the NFL’s announcement of the raise, Over the Cap revealed that the Lions have $63.7 million in cap space.
How Lattimore Might Fit With the Lions
In the 2017 NFL draft, Lattimore was selected 11th overall by the Saints. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and received the Rookie Defensive Player of the Year award.
In seven NFL seasons, Lattimore has recorded 86 pass defences and 15 interceptions. He’s also made 375 total tackles, including 7 for loss and 5 forced fumbles. Lattimore has been to four Pro Bowls.
The Lions could start an outside cornerback opposite Cameron Sutton. Cornerbacks Kindle Vildor, Jerry Jacobs, and Emmanuel Moseley will become unrestricted free agents in March.
Detroit was 27th in passing yards allowed and 29th in net yards yielded per pass attempt in 2023. So, regardless of their cornerback free agent scenario, they are expected to look for secondary additions this offseason.
The main concern with Lattimore is his health. He has missed 17 games in the last two seasons due to injuries.
Moseley signed with the Lions last offseason despite injuring his left ACL the previous season. Moseley only played two snaps in 2024 before hurting his right ACL.
Lattimore’s injuries have not been as severe. But the Lions don’t want to bring in another cornerback who won’t play, especially if it means giving up draft money.
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