Marshon Lattimore had been a fixture on the Saints' defense for seven-plus seasons since the team picked him in the first round of the 2017 draft. Now the 28-year-old four-time Pro Bowl cornerback will be part of the Commanders' secondary.
New Orleans, after firing defensive-minded head coach Dennis Allen, Latiimore's long-time coordinator, is going forward with trying to rebuild that side of the ball. Meanwhile, Washington, knowing its outside coverage was a big weakness in its surprising 7-2 start, gets a big upgrade while taking only a small part of Lattimore's remaining salary for 2024.
Here's breaking down how the deal is a win-win for both sides moving forward.
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Marshon Lattimore trade grades
Commanders receive:
- CB Marshon Lattimore
- 2025 fifth-round draft pick
Saints receive:
- 2025 third-round draft pick-
- 2025 fourth-round draft pick
- 2025 sixth-round draft pick
Commanders grade: A+
The Commanders couldn't contend for bigger prizes in the NFC with cornerback being the biggest liability in Dan Quinn's defense. Between Benjamin St-Juste, Mike Sainristil, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and Noah Igbinoghene, they were vulnerable outside and inside. Now, they get a savvy playmaker who can serve as another leader for Quinn's new-look attack.
Washington needed to be aggressive with a shot at the Super Bowl because of rookie QB Jayden Daniels leading a big offensive turnaround. Lattimore helps them better battle teams with dangerous downfield wide receivers down the stretch. It's another shrewd move by GM Adam Peters in his methodical march to run away with Sporting News' NFL Executive of the Year award.
Saints grade: A
The Saints don't have Allen anymore, but they still employ wily GM Mickey Loomis. New Orleans was hoping it could be a contender in the weakened NFC South the past couple of seasons, but it took a freefall of seven consecutive losses to spark some aggressiveness toward stockpiling draft picks for a rebuild
Lattimore was seen as possibly untradable because of a hefty contract with two more years left, but the Saints worked around that well when their supply met the right team's demand.
