Breaking News: Injury Crisis Chiefs Eye $120 Million Trade Target for Swift Recovery
As the 2024 trade deadline approaches, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by general manager Brett Veach, are making bold moves to strengthen their roster. Recently, the team secured wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and edge rusher Joshua Uche. However, according to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions may not be finished yet.
Fowler noted that while the Chiefs have addressed significant needs with their recent trades, the cornerback position remains a concern following the season-ending injury to Jaylen Watson. “Kansas City addressed two needs with trades… in back-to-back weeks,” Fowler stated. “But cornerback remains a need… and the belief is that Kansas City is at least monitoring that market close to the deadline.”
The Chiefs are not under pressure to make another move but remain open to it, especially with their 2025 draft position still intact after acquiring a third-round pick in the L’Jarius Sneed trade.
An Aggressive Target: Marshon Lattimore
Bleacher Report analyst Alex Ballentine has suggested that the Chiefs could pursue New Orleans Saints star cornerback Marshon Lattimore as a strategic trade target. “The Chiefs already swung a big move to acquire DeAndre Hopkins… however, they have enough salary cap flexibility to make another move,” Ballentine wrote. He emphasized that pursuing a third Super Bowl title could drive the team to make a significant trade, with Lattimore fitting the bill.
Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowler, could seamlessly step into the lineup to replace Watson, who has been placed on injured reserve. Ballentine noted that the Saints have a strong depth at cornerback and are facing cap challenges, making a trade for Lattimore plausible.
Financial Feasibility of a Lattimore Trade
One major question looms: Can the Chiefs afford Lattimore? Currently, he is playing under a $97 million contract, which raises concerns about salary cap implications. Following recent trades, the Chiefs have approximately $255,953 in available cap space, as reported by Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick.
While the Chiefs can still make a move, adding a player with a substantial base salary would be challenging. Lattimore’s cap hit is over $14.6 million for 2024, but his base salary is relatively low at $1.21 million. Most of his cap hit has been allocated to a signing bonus exceeding $10.6 million.
It’s worth noting that Lattimore’s contract escalates in the final years, with base salaries of $16 million in 2025 and $16.5 million in 2026. If the Chiefs were to find themselves wanting to move on from Lattimore after 2024, they could designate him as a post-June 1 cut, potentially freeing up significant cap space.
Lattimore’s Impact on the Chiefs Defense
Kansas City’s defense has shown strength in 2024, yet cornerback remains a potential vulnerability, especially if further injuries occur. Lattimore not only fills this gap but enhances the overall defensive lineup.
Pro Football Focus has consistently rated Lattimore highly in pass coverage, achieving a grade of 69.0 or greater over the past four seasons, while limiting opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating under 78.0. Although his interception numbers have declined, Lattimore remains a playmaker with 5 interceptions and 29 pass breakups in the last four seasons.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would likely value Lattimore’s tackling ability as well, with the veteran maintaining a sub-10.0 missed tackle rate in seven out of eight NFL seasons, contributing 97 key defensive stops throughout his career.
Conclusion
With the trade deadline looming, the Chiefs are strategically positioning themselves to make a significant move. Acquiring Marshon Lattimore could provide the depth and talent needed to fortify their defense as they pursue another Super Bowl championship. As always, the coming days will be critical in determining whether Kansas City can pull off this ambitious trade.