Cornerback was one of the Las Vegas Raiders‘ biggest needs heading into the offseason, but the team has not done much to address it. They didn't sign any notable cornerbacks and waited until the fourth round to draft one in the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, the team can still find an impactful cornerback. The New Orleans Saints used a second-round pick on Kool-Aid McKinstry, which could mean they’re willing to trade star cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
. Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Focus suggested a trade that would send Lattimore to the Raiders for a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick that could turn into a fourth-round pick based on playing time.
Robinson wrote in a May 6 columnthat a potential Lattimore trade was not signaled by drafting a second-round cornerback alone. He also highlighted that New Orleans restructured Lattimore’s contract to facilitate a post-June 1 trade.
“Las Vegas needs cornerback help but didn’t select one until Day 3 (Mississippi State’s Decamerion Richardson). With the option to pick up his contract, the Raiders could have Lattimore under contract in 2024 with a cap charge below $4 million,” Fitzgerald of Over the Cap noted in March.
Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowler at just 27 years old, has missed 17 games over the last two seasons due to injuries. This is likely why Robinson thinks he could be traded for such a low price.
New Orleans Saints Not ‘Actively’ Looking to Trade Marshon Lattimore
Lattimore has been one of the Saints’ best players since joining in 2017. Due to salary cap issues, moving on from Lattimore’s five-year, $97.6 million contract might be appealing.
General manager Mickey Loomis recently discussed the possibility of trading the cornerback and he did not rule it out.
Loomis mentioned on the May 3 Schein on Sports episode that while they are not actively trying to trade Marshon, they would consider proposals that make sense.
Should Las Vegas Raiders Pursue Marshon Lattimore?
Lattimore's injury history makes him a risky trade target, but a conditional fifth-round pick would be a small price for one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. With only two years left on his contract, the Raiders wouldn't be stuck with him for too long if he couldn't stay healthy.
It’s hard to see how Las Vegas could turn down this trade proposal. They’d get a legit star cornerback who is only 27 for a fourth-round pick at most. The injuries are a serious concern, but he’s still young enough to make a recovery. Adding Lattimore would give the Raiders a legit secondary and they could end up having a top-five defense next season.
