New Orleans Saints are not ‘actively’ trying to trade star players, but remain open to offers

Last season, the New Orleans Saints came close to clinching a playoff spot and winning the NFC South with a 9-8 record. Having come so close to winning the division, the Saints’ key decision makers decided to maintain continuity by retaining general manager Mickey Loomis and coach Dennis Allen. Quarterback Derek Carr also returns for a second season.

After an up-and-down season, the Saints are hoping the changes they’ve made, such as adding Chase Young in free agency, and Taliese Fuaga and Kool-Aid McKinstry in the NFL Draft, will improve their chances of making the 2024 postseason -play football. .

But just because the bulk of the roster move has been completed doesn’t mean the Saints aren’t still open to more significant changes.

One of the Saints trade rumors that won’t go away involves four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and adding McKinstry certainly hasn’t quieted the conversation.

There’s no doubt Lattimore is a talented player, but the cornerback has played just 17 games over the past two seasons and is set for a cap hit of $14.6 million in 2024. His cap hit increases to $31.4 million in 2025.

For a team that seemingly always faces salary cap issues, parting ways with Lattimore could be a way to lighten the load going forward while adding valuable draft capital or possibly even another player who can help the team now to win.

While teams looking to compete typically aren’t in the business of trading some of their best players, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis admits he’s open to negotiating a Lattimore trade for the right offer.

“If a guy is a really good player for your team, he’s not necessarily on the market, but there are times when you get a call and someone makes an offer and that might make sense for you. That goes for every player on your team. If you get an offer you can’t refuse, you should at least look at it. So that’s what I would say. I try not to actively trade Marshon. Marshon is such a good player, he’s an elite corner. He’s had a number of injuries in recent seasons that have kept him off the field, and we have to get over that. It’s not his fault, it’s just the circumstances. That is exactly where we are now.”

New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis on Marshon Lattimore trade rumors

While Loomis also said McKinstry’s signing “doesn’t mean anything,” it’s entirely possible the Saints selected the former Alabama star with the thought of parting ways with Lattimore in the near future. Of course, that doesn’t mean it will happen before the season starts, but Loomis makes it clear he’s open to the right offer.

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