Commanders must aggressively pursue Marshon Lattimore trade amid Saints slump

The Washington Commanders are 7-2 following their win at the New York Giants. It was a professional display where they were largely in control throughout. This strengthens their position atop the NFC East and bolsters their postseason aspirations for good measure.

It also gives general manager Adam Peters plenty of food for thought with just two days remaining until the 2024 trade deadline. The Commanders are reportedly making calls around the league to potentially secure help at two key positions - namely wide receiver and cornerback - to give their playoff aspirations another shot in the arm. Whether the front-office leader can get something figured out by Tuesday's deadline at 4 p.m. Eastern Time is another matter.

Teams will be examining their prospects and adjusting accordingly. Peters should look no further than the New Orleans Saints for a potential solution to their cornerback conundrum.

Commanders could tempt Saints into Marshon Lattimore trade

Jordan Schultz from FOX Sports revealed that the Saints have received inquiries about stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The insider added that a New Orleans loss at the Carolina Panthers, which occurred in surprising circumstances, could result in the organization being more receptive to offers before the November 5 cut-off point.

"Teams have called about Saints 4x Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore, though it remains unclear if New Orleans would be willing to entertain a deal. The Saints are 2-6 and get Derek Carr back today. Rival teams believe that a loss to Carolina could prompt New Orleans to strongly explore multiple moves."

- Jordan Schultz, FOX Sports

Much will depend on the compensation involved, but this would be a tremendous addition to the Commanders. It also makes a ton of sense with the Saints going nowhere fast and embarking on more salary-cap hell during the 2025 offseason for good measure.

Washington has no such concerns. They have the financial resources to absorb the final two years of his deal - of which there is no more guaranteed salary. Peters also has a wealth of draft assets to make New Orleans an enticing offer to assist with the team's upcoming rebuild.

At 28 years old, Lattimore represents a long-term investment in keeping with Peters' strategy for the franchise. He's a shutdown presence when fit and firing on all cylinders. Staying healthy can be an issue, but this is a risk well worth taking if the price is right.

Adding Lattimore to this cornerback room would be incredible. Benjamin St-Juste remains a penalty waiting to happen. Mike Sainristil continues to show promise in Year 1 of his professional career, but this won't be enough if the Commanders want to make noise in the postseason.

Whether it's Lattimore or someone else, the Commanders need another capable body. Someone capable of fitting into the team's outstanding culture shift and the experience to slot into the scheme immediately.

Lattimore's skill set isn't scheme-dependent. Peters will examine the risk versus reward and do what's best for the team. But with changing expectations should come a slightly altered mindset.

After all, it's been a long time since the Commanders had a chance like this.

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