The New Orleans Saints had a rough 2023 season. After acquiring QB Derek Carr during that offseason, many people expected the Saints to win the NFC South. Unfortunately, for New Orleans, they ended up missing the playoffs entirely.
As a result, this has brought up some frustration. It has even led to questions about certain players’ future with the team. Well, head coach Dennis Allen is confident one particular player will remain with the team going forward.
Dennis Allen Believes CB Marshon Lattimore Will Stay
Throughout the offseason, there were trade rumors centering around Saints CB Marshon Lattimore. This past weekend, head coach Dennis Allen took the time to address these rumors. The New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame was part of a celebrity golf tournament that took place at Chateau Country Club in Kenner, LA.
During that golf tournament, Allen spoke to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. In that conversation, Allen revealed that he had a “positive” conversation with Lattimore regarding his future with the team. After that conversation, Allen feels confident that he and Lattimore will “move forward” together in the 2024 season.
Marshon Lattimore By the Numbers
Lattimore has been a key part of this Saints defense for the last seven seasons. A big reason trade rumors came up this past offseason is due to the way his contract is structured.
Technically, he has a contract with the Saints until the end of the 2028 season. However, the Saints have an opt-out clause in the contract they can choose to exercise after the 2024 season. As a result, some people believed they would consider trading Lattimore to a team that may wish to use him as a rental.
So, what has he done during the first seven years of his NFL career? Well, Lattimore has 15 interceptions, five forced fumbles, and 375 combined tackles.
New Orleans Saints Moving Forward
The Saints will have pressure to perform in 2024. This could be a key season for them after a disappointing year in 2023. If New Orleans takes another step down in 2024, the team’s future could look bleak.
However, the Saints pass defense was a key reason why they allowed a limited number of points per game last season. Allowing just 207.3 passing yards per game helped contain opponents to just 19.2 points per game in 2023. Lattimore and the rest of the Saints’ secondary will have to keep up this level of success for the Saints to go anywhere next season.
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