At the NFL trade deadline, the Washington Commanders made a significant move by acquiring four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints. In exchange, Washington sent third-, fourth-, and sixth-round picks in the 2025 draft to New Orleans and received a fifth-round pick along with Lattimore, pending his passing a physical examination.
Lattimore, aged 28, brings an immediate defensive boost to the Commanders, who currently hold a 7-2 record this season and are aiming to strengthen their unexpected playoff aspirations. He is expected to join Benjamin St-Juste and rookie Mike Sainristil at cornerback, forming a formidable secondary alongside safeties Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin.
The trade involving Lattimore marks a significant change for the Saints, who recently dismissed coach Dennis Allen following a string of losses that brought their record to 2-7. Lattimore, the 2017 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been plagued by hamstring injuries, leading to missed games and persistent trade speculations.
Notably, Lattimore has maintained an impressive record of not allowing a touchdown in coverage since 2021, compensating for his relatively low interception count during that period. His restructured contract made him a cost-effective addition for Washington, with no remaining guaranteed money.
General manager Adam Peters managed to secure Lattimore without depleting the team's assets significantly, leveraging a third-round pick acquired from Philadelphia in a previous trade involving receiver Jahan Dotson. Additionally, the sixth-round pick sent to the Saints was originally obtained from the Commanders' acquisition of defensive tackle John Ridgeway before the season commenced.
Lattimore's arrival provides Peters and coach Dan Quinn with flexibility concerning struggling young cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, who was notably absent from the recent game against the New York Giants. Forbes, a 2023 first-round pick, has faced multiple benchings since turning pro, reflecting a series of draft missteps during Ron Rivera's tenure.
To accommodate Lattimore on the roster, the Commanders released defensive end Efe Obada.
