The New Orleans Saints have to figure out how to field the most competitive lineup for next season if the team hopes to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, it might involve trading Marshon Lattimore and his $97 million contract to another franchise.
Although the Saints improved their 7-10 record from the previous campaign, they didn’t make the playoffs this year. Even after finishing with a 9-8 record and tied for the NFC South title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers won a three-way tie to claim the last wild card spot, leaving New Orleans’ season to end right away.
But before the Saints can retool their roster and make improvements to it in the offseason, they’d have to figure out how to steer clear of the salary cap. The most obvious move to many is to trade Lattimore’s contract to another team.
While Lattimore has played well during his time with the Saints, a slew of injuries and a big contract are hindrances to getting the most out of the cornerback. Aaron Schatz of ESPN explains how this move can possibly play out:
“The Saints gave Lattimore an unusual contract restructure that makes a trade much more possible, converting most of his salary into an option bonus that will be paid in early September. Thus, the option would be paid by Lattimore’s new team, not by the Saints in dead money.
Lattimore would still have a $30.4 million dead money hit if he’s traded before the draft (i.e. for 2024 draft picks) but the Saints could also wait, trade him after June 1 and have just $13.4 million in dead money this year with $20.8 million in 2025. The Saints could then draft a young cornerback or perhaps move Alontae Taylor back to the outside,” Schatz wrote.
Going through with this trade will help New Orleans be more flexible in keeping the lineup fresh and competitive for next season. Meanwhile, Lattimore has the chance to start again with a new team in the event he is traded by the Saints.
Leave a Reply