Tag: compensation

The Saints would be fools to accept this Marshon Lattimore trade offer

The Saints would be fools to accept this Marshon Lattimore trade offer. Trading a great player requires great compensation:

Speculation is picking up on what the New Orleans Saints may do with cornerback Marshon Lattimore this offseason. It makes sense — the pro football world just gathered in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine and Lattimore’s unique contract restructure signaled to teams that he could be available in a trade. But what could the Saints get back from him?

In an otherwise very thorough, informative, and well-conceived analysis of the situation, Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald missed the mark in suggesting what sort of compensation the Saints could hope for in trading Lattimore. When considering what New Orleans might get back, he suggested:

Probably not too much. Jalen Ramsey who was just one year older was traded for a 3rd round pick and a 3rd round tight end who never saw the field in two years. Lattimore is not considered as good as Ramsey and has a far more extensive injury history. Both cases are going to be seen as salary dumps which lessens the value. So you might be looking at something like a 5th round pick being the base compensation. The benefit for the Saints is because this would be a trade that happens post draft it may be easier to get conditions on availability and team success that could get it close to the Ramsey range. The Saints would probably want to get the trade done before the start of camp which would limit their liability in the event of Lattimore being injured in camp.

That would be a major disappointment for Saints fans, and arguably a fireable offense for general manager Mickey Loomis. Great players require great compensation, and a fifth rounder hardly matches that description. Fitzgerald is wrong to characterize this as a salary dump — the Saints aren’t open to trading Lattimore because he’s making too much money. They’re open to trading him because of a conflict with either head coach Dennis Allen or the team medical staff (or both), and the explicit consideration that Lattimore is one of the few assets the team could hope to trade and get back something worthwhile to help rebuild their roster.

And it’s inaccurate to suggest Lattimore is “not considered as good as Ramsey” because if Lattimore isn’t in that conversation, then who is? Even if Lattimore has missed 17 games to injuries over the last two years, he’s tied for the 17th-most interceptions (7) and 14th-most passes defensed (42) among cornerbacks since the 2020 season. Compare that to Ramsey’s 8 interceptions and 30 pass breakups in the same span, with Ramsey appearing in 11 more games. Obviously there’s more to the position than this but it’s disrespectful to Lattimore to undersell his performance like this.

Back to the Saints. It would be absurd for them to accept a fifth-round pick in exchange for Lattimore’s services. He’s worth so much more to the team than what any fifth-round rookie could hope to achieve. Since Jeff Ireland joined the scouting department back in 2015 the Saints have picked just one fifth rounder who spent his entire four-year contract with New Orleans; defensive tackle Tyeler Davison. Each of their other fifth-round picks has flopped, though it’s early for special teams linebacker D’Marco Jackson and second-year safety Jordan Howden.

Still. Unless the Saints are desperate to move Lattimore, and there’s no indication they are without him being granted permission to seek a trade (to say nothing of New Orleans not actively shopping him at this week’s combine), it’s going to take a good offer to pry him away. It has to. It would be unacceptable for Loomis to sell so low on one of the team’s most talented playerse.

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Compensation announced for Browns’ Za’Darius Smith trade

The Browns gave up two draft picks in their trade with the Vikings for veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith

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The Cleveland Browns made a bold move by adding veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith on Friday, and compensation for the deal was announced shortly after news broke that the teams had reached an agreement.

Cleveland is set to give up fifth-round selections in the next two drafts for Smith. They will also receive sixth and seventh-round selections in 2025 as part of the deal, giving the team some flexibility moving forward.

All in all, the Browns didn’t have to give up significant assets to acquire Smith, who has been one of the most consistently productive pass rushers in the NFL since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2015.

Originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, he spent time with the Green Bay Packers before signing with the Vikings last year. Now set to be a key member of the Browns’ defensive line alongside Myles Garrett, Smith’s outlook for the 2023 season is superb, as he looks to earn himself a massive extension when his contract expires next March.

Aaron Rodgers says Packers are ‘digging their heels in’ on trade compensation with Jets

The Packers and Jets are working on a trade involving Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers are “digging their heels in” on the compensation, per the QB.

Soon-to-be New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he isn’t holding up a trade between the Jets and Green Bay Packers, and it’s his belief that the Packers are holding out to get the compensation they want from the Jets.

“I haven’t been holding anything up at this point, it’s been compensation that the Packers are trying to get for me, and kind of digging their heels in, so it is interesting at this point to step back and take a look at the whole picture,” Rodgers told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday.

Rodgers, who is still under contract with the Packers, confirmed playing for the Jets in 2023 is his intention. But Rodgers-the-Jet isn’t official until the two sides can agree on the parameters of a trade that will send the future Hall of Famer from Green Bay to New York.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Packers aren’t asking for two first-round picks in exchange for Rodgers, despite a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN suggesting otherwise earlier on Wednesday.

The ball appears to be in the Jets’ court. The Jets want Rodgers, and Rodgers wants the Jets, and now everyone knows the desired outcome. The Packers don’t necessarily need to rush into a trade considering Rodgers remains under contract and his massive roster bonus can be exercised at any point between now and Week 1.

The one deadline for the Packers might be the 2023 draft. Presumably, the Packers will want premium picks in April’s draft, so the two sides — in theory — still have over a month to figure out a trade. A resolution sooner rather than later still works better for both sides.

Expect the Packers to squeeze the Jets until the right compensation is agreed upon. The franchise is ready to move on to Jordan Love at quarterback, but the Packers aren’t going to give away Rodgers without maximizing the return for a premium asset.

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Report: Saints, Raiders have agreed on potential Derek Carr trade compensation

The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore reports that the Saints and Raiders have already agreed on trade compensation for quarterback Derek Carr, but no deal is imminent:

This was the implication, but now it’s been put out in public. The New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders have already agreed on compensation should Derek Carr waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a move, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Now it’s on New Orleans to sell Carr on what they have to offer and reach an agreement on how his hefty contract will be restructured should he wish to join them, likely through an extension.

So what could the Saints and Raiders be looking to exchange here? Las Vegas has little to no leverage given the ticking clock of a Feb. 15 trade deadline, and New Orleans is in the driver’s seat without any other teams having scheduled a meeting with Carr (at time of writing, anyway). It’s a very similar situation the Atlanta Falcons found themselves in last year when they alienated Matt Ryan in selling out for Deshaun Watson, eventually honoring his request to be traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 82 overall) while taking on $40.5 million in dead money.

New Orleans is picking at No. 71 overall in the third round this year, though they don’t own a third rounder in 2024 after including it in the Sean Payton trade. That also lines up with the value other mid-level quarterback trades have brought recently like the Carson Wentz trade in 2022 that sent him from Indianapolis to the Washington Commanders, which saw both teams swap second-round picks with the Colts recouping a third rounder in 2022 and a conditional third-round choice in 2023.

Maybe the Saints are willing to pay more to get their quarterback. Maybe the Raiders are willing to ask for less to get him off their books. That hard deadline and Carr’s substantial salary cap hit puts a lot of pressure on Las Vegas to accept an offer before their window closes and they’re forced to cut him without getting anything. Hopefully the Saints are aware of that and approaching these negotiations from a position of strength accordingly. We’ll know within a week.

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Report: Saints, Broncos ‘appear to be on the same page’ on Sean Payton trade value

NFL Network reports that the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos ‘appear to be on the same page’ concerning Sean Payton trade compensation:

This is reassuring: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos “appear to be on the same page” after greenlighting an interview with Sean Payton for the Broncos’ open head coach job; Rapoport adds that the Saints want a first round draft pick and other assets for their former head coach, and Denver is at least prepared to consider paying that price.

They have the means to do it. Even after selling the farm for Russell Wilson, the Broncos own a 2023 first round pick (from the San Francisco 49ers, thanks to a midseason deal with the Miami Dolphins) and a pair of 2023 third rounders as well as their 2024 draft picks in each of the first four rounds. Players can’t be included in trades for coaches, only draft picks and cash considerations. But Denver still has enough resources to match many other offers.

That’s not to say things are heating up, or that both sides have any agreement on trade compensation. The Broncos simply have an understanding of what the Saints are seeking. Should Payton hear them out and want the job, talks will advance further. Then we’ll get a better idea of exactly what the Saints are seeking in a trade. For now, it’s just good to see that New Orleans has done its due diligence in handling this situation seriously.

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Ravens trade for Bears LB Roquan Smith ahead of Week 9 game vs. Saints

Ravens trade for Bears LB Roquan Smith ahead of Week 9 game vs. Saints, pairing him with Patrick Queen:

Deadlines spur action, and the annual NFL trade deadline (falling on Nov. 2 this year) prompted the Baltimore Ravens to trade for Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith ahead of their Week 9 game with the New Orleans Saints. Smith is seeking a long-term contract, and playing the second half of the regular season next to standout linebacker Patrick Queen will do a lot to raise his profile.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported news of the deal, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter clarifying the compensation for Chicago: second- and fifth-round draft picks in 2023. Ironically, former Saints linebacker A.J. Klein was also included in the trade, going to Chicago. Not a bad price for Baltimore to acquire the former No. 8 overall draft pick.

Smith will have plenty of time to pick up the playbook. Because the Saints and Ravens aren’t going to play until Monday night, he’ll have all three days of practice to work on the field, with Tuesday and Wednesday to work in the classroom. He’ll be a problem for New Orleans — Smith is one of two players to log multiple seasons with 100-plus tackles, 10-plus tackles for loss, and 3 or more sacks over the last four years (the other being Demario Davis).

He’s gone 0-2 against the Saints before while playing for the Bears, totaling 18 combined tackles (16 solo) with 2 tackles for loss and 2 pass deflections. But the Saints are 2-5 against the Ravens in series history with both of their victories coming on the road. New Orleans needs to rally at home against Smith and his new team.

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Saints include linebacker Kiko Alonso in Kwon Alexander trade package

Alonso suffered an ACL tear back in January’s playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings, which kept him sidelined throughout training camp.

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The New Orleans Saints made a move near the NFL trade deadline by picking up San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, and now we know what they gave up to acquire him: a conditional fifth-round draft pick and one of their own linebackers, Kiko Alonso.

Alonso suffered an ACL tear back in January’s playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings, which kept him sidelined throughout training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He was recently activated from the PUP list and returned to practice, though he wasn’t yet cleared to suit up for a game.

Alexander has been dealing with an injury, too. He was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain earlier this season and missed the last three games while recovering from it, though he was limited in 49ers practice last week. He’s a long shot to play in Week 9’s Sunday night matchup against his old Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad (due as much to that injury as COVID-19 testing restrictions), but expect him to push for a starting gig later this year.

In the end, the Saints swapped a selection on the final day of a future draft for a starting-quality linebacker, giving up a backup who hadn’t taken a snap for them yet in 2020. While the Saints are due to pay Alexander about $3 million in salary cap accounting for the rest of the year, the $900,000 or so in savings they’ve created by moving Alonso mean the final tally for the move is only around $2 million and some change. That’s a price worth paying for a Pro Bowl quality player.

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6 things that need to be addressed before a 17 game schedule becomes a reality

(AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio) The 17-game regular season has come up in football circles again since the collective bargaining agreement is in its last year. The players have constantly stated they are against making the regular season any longer. The …

 (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)

The 17-game regular season has come up in football circles again since the collective bargaining agreement is in its last year. The players have constantly stated they are against making the regular season any longer. The owners want 17 games to get more money from its television partners and because the preseason simply isn’t sustainable for anyone — fans, owners, players, coaches — as currently constituted. The 17-game schedule is one of the biggest things that will be talked about during the CBA negotiation. It’s really the biggest piece of leverage the players have over the owners in this round of talks. There are some things that need to change, and the players would be smart to focus on the following talking points any time 17 games is brought up.

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