5 cornerbacks Detroit Lions could trade for to replace Cameron Sutton
Lattimore is easy, almost too convenient, to tie to the Lions as a trade target. Head coach Dan Campbell, and more importantly defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, were on the Saints' coaching staff for the first four seasons of Lattimore's career. Glenn was the Saints' defensive backs coach in that time, helping Lattimore win Defensive Rookie of the Year (2017) and earn three Pro Bowl nods (2017, 2019, 2020).
The Saints restructured Lattimore's contract earlier this offseason to pave the way for a trade, reducing his base salary to the veteran minimum $1.2 million for this year. But he also has a $13.79 million roster bonus that triggers right before the regular season starts. So the cost for an acquiring team this year is more like $15 million. With that bonus trigger in mind, the Saints don't benefit cap-wise from trading him before June 1.
With the cap implications that are coming from releasing Sutton, and the likely void of his $10.5 million base salary for this year, the Lions may have some new-found cap space some time around June 1.
Lattimore has three years left on his contract, including 2024. He has missed 17 games over the last two seasons, with an overall drop-off in his play as well. It's hard to full say he is in decline going into his age-28 season, but it's not a reach the Saints may think he is and thus the trade cost could be lower.
Lattimore has a strong case to be No. 1 on this list, but someone else gets the nod.