Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is playing the kind of shut-down defense for the scorching-hot New Orleans Saints that should make him a front-runner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

But he's doing something that ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Matt Bowen says is even more valuable.

"He has the potential to be a guy that can play solo coverage by himself. I think that's more important than any awards," Bowen said. "You can say, 'We're gonna roll our safety away from Lattimore today, because we know he can lock that guy down.' You know how much freedom that gives you as a defensive coordinator?"