What will Marshon Lattimore have in store for the league’s best wide receivers in 2019?
By far, he is one of the cornerstones of the New Orleans Saints defense going forward. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be ascending to become a premier defensive back in the National Football League. The 2017 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year had an exceptional sophomore season in 2018.
The year started on a sour note to a certain extent, but eventually, Lattimore would revert to the shutdown corner that we saw in 2017. He would finish the 2018 season with only two interceptions which were three short of what he recorded in his rookie campaign.
Marshon Lattimore is a solid defender, but quarterbacks are still going to try their best to test his abilities. He has done exceptionally well when facing some of the league’s best wide receiver’s. Will he ever get to the level where quarterbacks fear throwing the football to his side? Saints fans shouldn’t be surprised if he does. But for the time being, Marshon Lattimore must do his best when battling against the league’s best receivers.
He has the potential to become the Saints version of Richard Sherman when he played during his prime years in Seattle. At the time, Richard Sherman was regarded as the National Football League’s best cornerback. His ability to shut down one side of the entire field put the league on notice. Marshon does not have Richard Sherman’s size or range, but he’s able to get physical with wideouts similar to the way Sherman does.
The Saints defense could very well have a top-five secondary when it’s all said and done in 2019. But it will rest upon the shoulders of Marshon Lattimore. He must continue to show quarterbacks that he is willing to go toe-to-toe with their best wide receivers. Also, the guy lining up opposite of Lattimore, Eli Apple will have something to prove in 2019.
Apple is seeking to land a big payday with the Saints or another team after this season. Apple’s performance, along with Lattimore’s, will be a crucial element to the Saints success overall. Lattimore will also become a free agent shortly as well, and a solid third year with the Saints should increase his value. Either way, the Saints front office view Marshon Lattimore as one of their core players going into the future.
His game would have to fall off significantly for the Saints to let him pursue other teams. Based off what we have seen in the preseason, the Saints are prepared to make another run at another Super Bowl title. Marshon Lattimore’s performance will play a massive part in how far this ball club will go in 2019.
Photo courtesy of the Bleacher Report.
