Black and Teal
FanSided

B/R urges Jaguars to make jaw-dropping trade before 2024 season

• B/R suggests a trade proposal for the Jaguars to add reinforcements to their cornerback room.

By Carlos Sanchez

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson left clockwise, Manager Trent Baalke and Jeff Ferguson, Vice President of player health and performance during the third day of an NFL football training camp practice Friday, July 26, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson left clockwise, Manager Trent Baalke and Jeff Ferguson, Vice President of player health and performance during the third day of an NFL football training camp practice Friday, July 26, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA
facebooktwitterreddit

Cornerback isn't a need for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they could use reinforcements at the position. This is why Alex Ballentine suggests they trade for a four-time Pro Bowl nod.

Ballentine came up with one trade each NFL team should make before the start of the season. He urges Jacksonville to acquire Marshon Lattimore, pointing out that they need to bolster their depth at cornerback. Another reason is that the former Ohio State Buckeye would give defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen a familiar face to work with.

"Right now, the Jaguars have Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby as starting outside corners with not a whole lot behind them. An injury to either of them would pose a serious issue for new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Nielsen made himself known as a defensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints. It might be time to get on the horn with his former team and see what it would take to bring in Marshon Lattimore.

The Saints restructured Lattimore's contract in a way that makes it much easier to trade him before the season starts. With Paulson Adebo due for a contract extension in 2025, the Saints might be willing to part with the older, more expensive Lattimore."

Ballentine believes that a third-round pick is a fair price to pay for Lattimore. Coincidentally, the Jags got an extra one, along with two fourth-rounders, when they traded the 17th overall selection to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for pick No. 23 in the 2024 NFL Draft.

For the sake of clarity, the Jaguars do have plenty of depth behind Darby and Campbell. Jarrian Jones, the 96th overall pick in this year's player selection meeting, stood out in the offseason and his penchant for making plays has carried over into training camp. The former Florida State product could vie for a starting job or extended playing time in 2024.

Apart from Jones, Jacksonville has sophomore Christian Braswell, rookie Deantre Prince, Gregory Junior, and Montaric Brown. They could find themselves competing for the backup job behind Jones. Having said that, none of them are in the same echelon as Lattimore.

A first-round pick in 2017, Lattimore has spent his whole NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, making 90 starts with 15 interceptions, 86 passes defensed, and five forced fumbles. The Ohio native earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and has earned four Pro Bowl nominations.

Nielsen joined the Saints as their defensive line coach in 2017. He was their co-defensive coordinator in 2021. That year, Lattimore gave up a completion rate of 54.8 percent, the second-lowest of his career, and no touchdown receptions.

While he's dealt with injuries the past two seasons, Lattimore isn't showing signs of slowing down. He could most definitely help the Jags.

Grade the trade pitch: Jaguars trade a 3rd-pick for Marshon Lattimore

Marshon Lattimore could turn the Jaguars' secondary into a strength. Moreover, he would provide insurance in case Tyson Campbell isn't ready for the opener. The 2021 second-round selection has been limited in training camp with an ankle injury. While he's been participating in position drills, he's not taken part in 7-on-7s or 11-on-11s.

With Lattimore in the fold, the Jaguars wouldn't have to press Campbell into action until he's 100 percent. The last thing they want is to see the former Georgia Bulldog miss time after giving him a top-market contract that makes him the highest-paid cornerback who's never made the Pro Bowl or earned an All-Pro selection.

Besides having to give up the 2025 third-rounder, Jacksonville would need to take on Lattimore's $3.9 million salary for 2024. If things didn't work out, they would have an option to opt out of the deal next year with minimal risk.

The one thing that could prevent the Jags from acquiring Lattimore is that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has stated that they're not interested in trading him. That said, they have Paulson Adebo in the fold. Add the fact that they drafted Kool-Aid McKinstry and the prospect of acquiring a third-round selection while unloading Lattimore's contract may be too good to pass up.

In the end, both the Jaguars and the Saints could benefit from a trade, but conditions to make it happen would have to be perfect for either team to consider pulling it off.

Grade: B

More Jaguars analysis here:

feed

Home/Jaguars Rumors