December 22, 2024

Ideal Packers CB trade target might come from floundering NFC bottom feeder

This would be quite the move.

The Green Bay Packers pulled out a gutsy win over the Houston Texans this past weekend and are once again looking at a division full of heavyweights. At 5-2, the Packers are still looking up at the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, who are both 5-1 on the season.

With October quickly coming to a close, we can now look ahead to the NFL trade deadline coming up on November 5.

Could the Packers become a buyer?

They should, and in one particular area: secondary help.

Prior to a dominating performance over the Texans in Week 7, the Packers had struggled mightily against the pass, giving up the sixth-most passing yards in the league through six weeks. Surprisingly, that number holds up despite Green Bay having faced the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts, both of whom who have not had a flourishing passing attack.

To say the Packers’ biggest need is at cornerback, going into this year’s trade deadline, is no surprise to fans who have been watching this team. They’ve already been linked to some of the top trade targets around the league. And, if Green Bay wanted to address it in a big way, they could look a bit south and take advantage of a reeling New Orleans Saints team.

Packers should target Marshon Lattimore at the NFL trade deadline

The Saints began the year in stellar fashion, with a record of 2-0 and looking like the most dominant offense in the league. However, they have now lost five in a row and have more problems than they can count.

Green Bay could look at snatching away veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore from New Orleans in what would be the perfect trade deadline move.

The four-time Pro Bowler is off to an excellent start this year, giving up an opposing quarterback rating of just 68.5. If that number held up, it would go down as his second-best mark ever. Lattimore is also averaging a career-best 5.0 yards per target allowed. He has yet to give up a touchdown in coverage and, according to Pro Football Reference, he hasn’t missed a single tackle.

Quietly, he’s had a phenomenal season while watching the Saints fall apart.

Lattimore is under contract for another two years after this year, so the Packers very well could have another strong starter for the next couple of seasons. That said, his contract is also a pretty hefty one. Green Bay might have to rework it a bit to make this work, and going into the next two years especially.

His cap hit is over $31 million in 2025 and over $28 million in 2026, which is far too much considering the Packers are also paying Jaire Alexander. If the team could restructure the deal in a way that’s fitting, then this makes a lot of sense.

If Green Bay could get Lattimore for no more than a third-rounder, at this point, that would be an absolute steal. It might also be the move that puts this team over the top, en route to an NFC North title.

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