The Vikings Should Be Calling The Saints
K. Joudry
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The Saints are in a financial mess, so the Vikings ought to be working the phones to see if they can pull off a trade.
Football, as I’m sure you’ve heard, is a matchup sport. The paradox is that this team game consists entirely of tiny one-on-one matchups across the field. Every single coaching staff for every single game tries to identify areas where their man will win. The opposition’s top corner struggles to move into the slot? Sounds good, let’s make sure we motion Justin Jefferson inside. Their RG really can’t handle the bull rush? Perfect, let’s make sure we move a powerful defensive lineman onto him for passing downs.
The front office shouldn’t operate any differently. Can they identify a team or two who will need to offload talented players due to salary cap constraints? If so, it’s time to start working the phones.
As it stands, New Orleans is carrying a startling $288.4 million into the 2022 season. It’s nearly $76 million over the cap. As a result, the team will surely be moving on from all kinds of talented players. The Drew Brees retirement – and subsequent inability to replace him – and Sean Payton departure means it’s finally time for the team to fully embrace a rebuild.
The Vikings, on the other hand, have been quite vocal about their desire to avoid a rebuild, so they could be a good partner for the Saints. The ownership wants the team to compete immediately. It’s this combination that makes one wonder: could there be a player or two who the Vikings could target in a trade? Rebuilding teams need draft capital (and, in this case, cap room); reloading teams need game-ready talent. It could be a perfect match.
The name that ought to be most intriguing is Marshon Lattimore. The former first-round pick is only 26. He is under contract until 2026. Trading him would mean NO needs to pay more than $13.4 million, though it would free up more than $14 million. Admittedly, this one is a long shot. The Vikings do need a CB1, but the cost of acquisition would be astronomical. The starting point for a Lattimore trade would be a first-rounder and then go from there.
A more realistic option could be Marcus Davenport. He’s also 26, but he’ll be a free agent following the season. The Saints could therefore be looking to move him, especially if a team like the Vikings is willing to part with a reasonably high draft pick.
Part of what makes this make sense for both sides is the nature of Davenport’s contract. He likely won’t be around New Orleans beyond 2022. Trading him frees up nearly $8.5 million while leaving behind just over $1 million. The acquiring team would only need to pay $8.5 million, a very reasonable number for a pass rusher who accumulated 9 sacks in only 11 games last year. A deal between the Saints and Vikings for the young pass rusher makes some sense.
To my mind, Erik McCoy would also be someone to ask about. At 24, McCoy has plenty of years left, and yet he has already put together several seasons of strong play at center. It’s unlikely the Saints want to move on from him. If they did, though, it’d likely be because they have concerns about their ability to bring him back following the 2022 season. It’s also notable that he has taken a step back from his strong rookie season. His PFF grade has decreased in all three years in the NFL.
Trading him would free up just under $2.8 million.
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