Lattimore - Possible Trade Partners Now That June 2nd Has Passed
Catch 22. On one hand I want to keep Latt because he's the best Corner we've ever had. We spent so many years searching for that lockdown #1 Corner and we finally found him. It's been amazing to watch a Saints Corner totally erase big time WRs.
But on the other hand, I think this bloated cap (without much talent or success to show for it) kick the can madness needs to stop. Can have my cake and eat it too. Some tough decisions will have to be made if they ever want to snap out of it.
Yes, but it doesn't have to be made this year. It's a year premature.
1. The trade value from this year to next isn't likely to change much unless he plays all 17 games on beastmode or something happens during the season that ends his season (don't you dare say the "i" word aloud).
2. The salary cap savings this year are worth less than what he's worth as a player even for only 10 games. He's more valuable as a Saint to the Saints for the 2024 season.
3. We get to drink the Kool-Aid first. We hope Kool-Aid McKinstry is the best CB in the draft, but that doesn't mean he will be. The Saints should take a year to figure out what they have in him before trading away the best CB in Saints history. ...And, this a big one, but it's convoluted so hear me out...
4. The Saints want to see out the last remaining changes needed to be made from the old regime. The Saints have more draft capital invested in their retooled Offensive line than most teams. That's 3 first rounders and a second rounder all drafted in the past 5 years. A retooled line and a fresh new offensive strategy with bonafied weapons in Kamara, Taysom Hill, Olave and Shaheed. The Saints see this year as a real chance to win the division and make a run. Enough has changed on the offensive side of the ball that they don't really know how good or bad the offense will be. So they're approaching the season as if they can right the ship on offense while fielding the usually solid defense. While fans may be ready to throw in the towel on this year, the Saints see it as a year to be maximally prepared to make a run. With incremental changes happening every year since the last coach's departure, these offensive changes and the contract decisions for Lattimore, Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan signal the last call for this version of the Saints. They're going to give it one last shot with a new engine because in 2025 a new chapter is coming anyway. Jordan and Davis are most likely gone. It makes sense to depart with Lattimore then too.
Trading him next year nets basically the same compensation and cap savings (relatively speaking since he's hopefully playing games). Plus, we get to see out the transition to the younger guys.