A Marshon Lattimore trade could look different than the recent L’Jarius Sneed trade

The 2024 offseason started with rumors that the New Orleans Saints could trade star cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Nothing has happened yet, but as head coach Dennis Allen put it, a ton of things can happen throughout the offseason. So while it’s quiet in New Orleans right now, fans are waiting to see if there will be any Lattimore updates.

Meanwhile, the NFL did just see another star cornerback get traded. The Kansas City Chiefs recently traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans. Sneed, one of the better corners in the NFL, is a big reason why the Chiefs are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl wins. However, a new contract prevented Kansas City from keeping Sneed around for a possible three peat.

Sneed was moved to Tennessee in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick and a swap of 2024 seventh-round picks. This compensation has led to Saints fans wondering if this is the kind of compensation New Orleans should expect to receive if Marshon Lattimore is actually traded. While a third-round pick is roughly the market for an elite corner, there are some key differences in the Sneed trade and a potential Lattimore trade.

Should Saints expect more for Marshon Lattimore than Chiefs got for L’Jarius Sneed

The biggest difference is that Sneed was set to be a free agent this offseason. Instead of letting the star corner walk in free agency, Kansas City decided to franchise tag, allowing the option for him to be traded or remain with the team for one more season on a fixed salary. Because Sneed didn’t technically have a contract, any team trading for him would have to immediately sign him to a very lucrative deal. We saw that happen, with Tennessee reportedly signing him to a four-year deal worth $76 million.

That wouldn’t be the case in a Lattimore trade, as he has seasons remaining on his current contract. That’s important because what you have to pay a player and how many years they’re under contract are both factors in trades. While Lattimore is under contract for three more years, he’s due $15 million this year, $18 million next season, and $18.5 million in 2026.

Considering that any team trading for Lattimore this offseason won’t have to worry about giving him a new contract, they could be willing to send more than just a third-round pick. However, the size of the contract the team will be taking over could also influence the trade package. Ultimately, each situation is unique, so Sneed’s trade package isn't necessarily representative of what a Lattimore trade package could end up being.

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