Washington is officially in playoff push mode. Making one of the biggest deals of the NFL trade deadline, the Commanders reached an agreement with the Saints for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
The Commanders are sending a 3rd round pick, a 4th round pick, and a 6th round pick. A relative steal for a player of Lattimore’s caliber at a critical position.
There’s no question that 2024 has been a down year for the Saints cornerback. A mixture of defensive mismanagement and nagging injuries have resulted in a less-than-stellar season in New Orleans, but provided Lattimore can be healthy he’ll thrive in the Commanders scheme, which is already one of the best defensive units in the NFL — but one in dire need of help in the secondary.
Meanwhile for the Saints this represents a lot of things at a time of momentous change. The team fired head coach Dennis Allen earlier in the week, and have mammoth salary cap challenges moving forward. Lattimore eventually eliminates some of that issue, though he will carry such a large dead cap figure in 2025 that the team will be forced to keep Derek Carr on the roster, a player many earmarked to be cut or traded in the offseason.
When healthy Lattimore is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. A player so monumentally talented that he can help shape a defense. The Commanders wouldn’t have made this deal without being confident that Lattimore’s hamstring injury is small enough he’ll be able to compete soon, and that could very well make the Commanders one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC next to the Lions as we approach the playoffs.
It’s important to note that the Commanders will only be paying Lattimore the NFL minimum for the remainder of 2024 due to the cornerback’s restructured contract. This means more moves could be on the horizon for Washington.
