The Washington Commanders strengthened their defense by acquiring seasoned cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints. In exchange, Washington sent their third- and fourth-round picks for 2025, along with a sixth-round pick they had previously acquired.
Additionally, the Commanders received a fifth-round pick for 2025 from the Saints, balancing the draft capital lost in the trade. Washington continues to prioritize roster development through the draft, and with Lattimore on board, they aim to address their struggling secondary while maintaining their long-term strategy.
Lattimore brings a strong record of pass breakups, ranking third in the NFL with 68 since his debut in 2017. He trails only James Bradberry and Darius Slay, who have 73 and 72 breakups, respectively.
Washingtonโs need for a reliable cornerback was clear, as they had been depending on Benjamin St-Juste as their main corner and starting rookie Mike Sainristil, who was drafted for the slot, on the outside. The trade allows the Commanders to pair Lattimore with St-Juste as their top outside corners, with Sainristil moving back to his natural slot role to strengthen the defensive backfield.
The team has also been working on developing Emmanuel Forbes, their 2023 first-round pick, though he has seen limited action, playing in only five games with minimal snaps in two of them. Washington’s defensive struggles in the passing game underline the need for a veteran presence like Lattimore. Despite ranking fifth in passing yards allowed per game, they are 21st in yards allowed per pass attempt, and their 18th-place ranking in opposing quarterback passer rating shows room for improvement that Lattimore’s experience could help address.
Though Lattimore has been a standout, earning four Pro Bowl selections, he has some injury concerns. Over the past two seasons, he has missed 19 games, including two this season due to a hamstring issue. His contract, restructured last year, offers some financial flexibility, but he still has two years remaining with cap hits of $18 million and $18.5 million for 2025 and 2026. Washingtonโs cap hit for the remainder of this season will be just $605,000, making the trade a manageable short-term cost.
The trade follows turbulence for the Saints, who recently fired head coach Dennis Allen after a seventh consecutive loss. Lattimore, who had been part of trade rumors for almost a year, had previously denied requesting a trade and showed up to minicamp to show his commitment. However, a reported โpersonal situationโ with Coach Allen had strained their relationship. With the Saints undergoing coaching changes and Lattimore heading to Washington, both teams are hoping for a fresh start and positive outcomes from this trade.
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