We asked @19problemz who his top corners he’s faced were:
Deebo said Marshon Lattimore, @PatSurtainll and @jalenramsey.#uSTADIUMSBLVIII x @Bet_Rithmm x @TickPick pic.twitter.com/M6trhme9kD
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) February 6, 2024
Here’s some respect for Marshon Lattimore from one of his best opponents. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel was asked which cornerbacks had given him the toughest challenge in the NFL at the Super Bowl LVIII media availability session on Monday night, and Lattimore was the first name that came to mind.
“I’ve faced some guys,” Samuel reflected. “I feel Marshon Lattimore is bad. You’ve got Pat Surtain, I’ve played (Jalen) Ramsey every year, those guys right there are ballers.”
Samuel has twice played against the Saints, but he and Lattimore have only crossed paths once, back in 2019. And that game clearly left a strong impression. Samuel totaled 5 receptions for 76 yards, picking up 3 first downs on that afternoon — but he caught just a single pass for a 7-yard gain with Lattimore covering him, stopping him short of the sticks. After getting whatever he wanted from Lattimore’s teammates (particularly Eli Apple), Samuel got nothing against their top corner.
It goes to show how respected Lattimore is around the league; when he’s healthy and locked in, he’s arguably the best corner active in the NFL. Which makes it all the more concerning that the Saints are open to trading him. New Orleans restructured his contract late in the 2023 season in such a way that it’s easier to trade him up until a week before the 2024 kickoff game. Lattimore has missed a lot of time with injuries the last two years and the secondary has held up without him, leading the Saints to think they could move him, get some draft picks, and not miss a beat on the back end.
That feels risky. Lattimore is a special talent. Whether there’s beef behind the scenes between him and head coach Dennis Allen or frustration about his injuries (both freak accidents, not recurring ailments), it’s something the Saints can and should work out. There’s no good reason for Lattimore not continuing his career in black and gold. If he ends up being moved this summer, star wideouts around the league like Samuel are going to feel quite a bit better playing against the Saints.
