Cornerback Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints looks on before the NFL National Football Conference playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., January 17, 2021. /CFP
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore has agreed to a five-year, $97.6-million contract extension offered by the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The new deal contains $68.3 million of guaranteed money, the largest full guarantee at signing for any player in Lattimore's position in NFL history.
Keeping one of the team's core players plus the 38-3 big win over the Green Bay Packers in the season opener gave Packers fans more reasons to cheer. The day could have been better if Lattimore had not suffered a thumb injury in Sunday's game. He did not start at the beginning of the third quarter and was spotted with a brace on his hand when he returned.
The Saints managed to retain several key members of their roster despite facing severe salary-cap limitations. For example, running back Alvin Kamara signed a five-year, $75-million contract; right tackle Ryan Ramczyk accepted a five-year, $96-million deal; the Saints also put a franchise tag on safety Marcus Williams, worth $13.4 million.
Wide receiver Davante Adams (#17) of the Green Bay Packers makes a catch against Marshon Lattimore (#23) of the New Orleans Saints in the game at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S., September 12, 2021. /CFP
Lattimore is in his last year of a rookie contract and the Saints don't want what happened to defensive end Trey Hendrickson to happen to Lattimore again – Hendrickson departed for the Cincinnati Bengals for a lucrative four-year, $60-million contract.
As the 11th-overall selection of the 2017 draft class, Lattimore is already a three-time Pro Bowler who had 10 interceptions and 55 passes defended. He contributed one pass defense and three tackles in Sunday's game. Packers wide receiver Davante Adams only had five catches for 56 yards thanks to Lattimore's defense. The reigning MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers saw 13 of his 28 passes uncompleted, which led to only 133 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
"Our defense, when you hold Aaron Rodgers 1-of-10 on third down, that's just incredible. When we are able to hold one of the top offenses of last year to three possessions in a half, that's the type of stuff that we preach about," said Saints QB Jameis Winston, who passed five TDs in Sunday's game.