The Washington Commanders made a big move at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday 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 back along with Lattimore, pending a physical exam.
Lattimore, 28, will immediately improve Washington’s defense. The team, currently with a 7-2 record, is looking to strengthen its playoff hopes. He is expected to start alongside Benjamin St-Juste and rookie Mike Sainristil at cornerback, joining a secondary that also includes talented safeties Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin.
The trade of Lattimore follows a series of changes for the Saints, who recently fired coach Dennis Allen after a seventh straight loss dropped their record to 2-7.
Lattimore, the 2017 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been dealing with hamstring injuries that caused him to miss some games. He had been the subject of trade rumors for a while.
Despite missing games, Lattimore has not allowed a touchdown in coverage since 2021. While he has only two interceptions during this period, his ability to shut down receivers has made him a valuable addition to Washington’s defense.
His restructured contract makes him a low-cost pickup, and he has no guaranteed money left on his deal.
First-year general manager Adam Peters did not have to give up many valuable assets when making the trade for Marshon Lattimore, as he already had some picks from earlier moves.
Peters had received a third-round pick from Philadelphia in August as part of the trade that sent receiver Jahan Dotson to the Eagles. The sixth-round pick sent to the Saints was from acquiring defensive tackle John Ridgeway from the Commanders just before the season began.
Lattimore also gives Peters and coach Dan Quinn more options with young cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, who has been struggling. Forbes did not play at all in the game against the New York Giants on Sunday.
Forbes, a first-round pick in 2023, was part of a series of draft mistakes made under the previous regime of head coach Ron Rivera. He has been benched multiple times during his short career.
To make room for Lattimore on the roster, the Commanders released defensive end Efe Obada.
