Add the Washington Commanders to the list of playoff contenders making a bold move in advance of the NFL trade deadline.
Hours before Tuesday’s cutoff, the Commanders struck an agreement with the New Orleans Saints to acquire cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
The Saints will receive a third-round pick, fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick while the Commanders will also get a fifth-round pick in the deal.
In adding the four-time Pro Bowl selection, the 7-2 Commanders have strengthened their outlook at one of their weakest positions. The Saints, meanwhile, continue to focus on the long term after firing coach Dennis Allen on Monday.
Here’s how each team fared in the deal.
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Commanders grade: B+
From a talent standpoint, there’s plenty to like in this move. Lattimore, 28, is a sticky presence in coverage and also a playmaker with 15 career interceptions. Even amid the Saints’ widespread struggles, he’s yielding a career-low 5.2 yards per target while allowing a meager 69.1 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Reference. Still, this was a good bit of draft compensation to surrender, even for a team that was set to have an extra third-round pick thanks to its Jahan Dotson deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though Lattimore is a proven entity, cornerback play can be volatile, and some other high-profile deals at the position – like the Tennessee Titans’ move for L’Jarius Sneed – have gone bust. That seems less risky, however, with the overall track record exhibited by a player who will clearly upgrade a premium spot – rookie Mike Sainristil can now move back to his more natural position in the slot – and serve as more than a rental. Health could be an X-factor, as Lattimore has missed 19 games since the 2022 season and is dealing with a hamstring injury. He is also due $36.5 million in the final two years of his contract after this season, though Washington is in a solid spot to absorb the hit.
Saints grade: B+
The reboot rolls on in the Big Easy. New Orleans didn’t have many assets to cast off for additional draft capital, so parting with Lattimore was a sensible move. The picks will come in handy for a roster that surely will need to rely on rookie contracts as it navigates a troublesome salary-cap fallout in the coming years. And between Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans is in a solid spot with its cornerbacks moving forward.
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