Rating: (0 votes - average)

I agree that we should not expect much value in return for trading Lattimore. Even though his age sounds young, he has a lot of wear on the tires for an NFL cornerback, is showing signs of reduced performance, and has only played half the games the last two years. Really he was only super elite his rookie year and since then he has a habit of completely shutting down Mike Evans or Julio Jones so that he can relax the next week and give up decent yardage to some random receiver, so its important to remember he is a borderline pro bowler who has not made the pro bowl the last two seasons, not a perennial all pro like some homers make him out to be.

The reason to potentially trade Lattimore even if you don't get much in return, is that his $18 million a year salaries for 2025 and 2026 do not look to be a very good value as his quality and quantity of play decrease, and Adebo and Taylor have more youth, upside, and durability. While trading him would create a big cap hit immediately, it would free up a lot of money down the road that could be used to retain existing players or to add new players at positions where we dont have two young projected starters with high upside.

That said, a players trade value is not solely based on their ability, its also based on cost. If Lattimore is being offered for trade with an $18 million salary for the upcoming season his value is very low. But if the Saints have just restructured Lattimore's contract, converted $17 million to a signing bonus that will stick on the Saints books even if he is traded, and a team has the ability to acquire Lattimore for $1 million for a year, regardless of exorbitant costs for future years where he would be cut if he did not take a pay cut, then Lattimore could be worth a 2nd or 3rd round pick more because its a cap mechanism to basically trade money for a draft pick knowing Lattimore is surely worth more than $1 million and could offer win-now value.

Knowing that Ram, Mathieu, and Davis took pay cuts, its reasonable to wonder if other players on the team were presented with pay cuts and refused. Lattimore is not worth $18 million a year playing 50% of games at his age and not playing at the most elite level when healthy. Its possible the Saints are discussing a pay cut. The only way any players will ever take pay cuts that make sense for the Saints if sometimes when they don't they get cut or they are traded to a team that views them as a 1 year rental and presents the risk of learning a new system. So we have to cut or trade some players whose salaries no longer make sense, unless we want to overpay everyone.

The Dude

Yea, AB is certified that’s for sure. Players like Thomas, OBJ, Moss and Owens just get caught up in drama. Thomas is kind of a victim of our time and the existence of social media. AB is on a whole new level.
Also, could yall imagine what Terrel Owens would have been like on Twitter? That would have been gold.

rezburna

I wish we would have got to see it. Ocho too. 😂

BakoSaint

Chandler Jones is on ABs level.

papz

Saints free agency: Experts hand out grades for New Orleans

USA Today: C-

USA Today’s Nate Davis was unimpressed by the Saints’ moves, though he noted a more conservative approach to free agency was probably necessary:

Aside from a few minor pickups (LB Willie Gay, WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., QB2 Nathan Peterman) before landing DE Chase Young on a one-year, $13 million offer this week, they’ve pretty much sat on the sideline while restructuring contracts throughout the roster as they do yearly. A more measured approach was going to be needed here eventually.

Pro Football Focus: B

Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger took a brighter view of the Saints’ additions and losses, crediting them for finding good value on the free agent market while getting younger at key positions:

With a lot of mid-tier and/or specific role linebackers doing well so far through the first day and a half of free agency, this is a good value for Gay. New Orleans gets a solid third linebacker to pair with Demario Davis and Pete Werner.

Full article

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

saintsfan1976

USA Today. The "news" paper for 6th graders.

Not the be all end all but at least PFF takes an in-depth look using analytics-based metrics.

rezburna

Additions:

Cedrick Wilson, WR
Stanley Morgan, WR
Nathan Peterman, QB
Willie Gay, LB
Chase Young, DE

Subtractions:

Lonnie Johnson Jr. (Texans)
Zack Baun (Eagles)
Jameis Winston (Browns)
Malcolm Roach (Broncos)
Isaac Yiadom (49ers)

Thoughts so far…

We didn’t lose any starters outside of the huge possibility of Andrus Peat moving on. Many of us have been calling for that to happen anyway. We improved our defense by adding speed and youth at the 1st and 2nd level. I expect to continue this trend in the draft. Cedric Wilson will serve as a good WR4 behind Perry, Olave, and Shaheed. WR is being viewed as a need by the media, but I don’t think they recognize what Perry has the potential to become. I give the the offseason so far a B-. We cut some fat. We added some talented players on defense. We upgraded at OC. I still have my concerns, but it’s been a typical Saints offseason. Measured and boring with a splash here and there.

"The first need of a free people is to define their own terms.” - Stokely Carmichael

saintsfan1976

Agree with your summation.

All eyes on the draft and expect Peat to be signed (possibly here) after the dust settles.

However, D line is where I'd like to see us draft or sign FA players.

SmashMouth

Except for Yiadom... he was good depth.

SmashMouth