The Washington Commanders needed a cornerback in the worst way to keep themselves in the contender tier in what has become a crowded NFC. With Marshon Lattimore available, general manager Adam Peters wasted no time making this move.
As the New Orleans Saints commence a proper rebuild following their 2-7 start, they sent Lattimore and a fifth-round pick to Washington. In return, the Commanders had to give up a third-round pick, a fourth-round draft choice, and a sixth-rounder originally acquired from the NFC South squad for defensive tackle John Ridgeway III after final cuts.
While the Commanders did pay a ton for a player who has had some injury concerns over the last few years, they also acquired a four-time Pro Bowler who has not allowed a touchdown in single coverage since the 2021 season. Their weakest area on the roster has been improved heading into the second half of 2024.
The Commanders will need to figure out how to best integrate Lattimore into their defensive scheme. Considering his immense talent, it shouldn't be too difficult for head coach Dan Quinn to come up with a plan that helps the former Ohio State star shut down some of the best wide receivers in the conference.
Full trade, per sources:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2024
🏈New Orleans gets:
-Washington 3rd-round pick
-Washington 4th
-Its 6th back from the John Ridgeway trade
🏈Washington gets:
-Marshon Lattimore
-Saints’ 5th-round pick https://t.co/FzvXHDrBt8
Updated Commanders depth chart after huge Marshon Lattimore trade
CB1: Marshon Lattimore
CB2: Mike Sainristil
CB3: Benjamin St-Juste
CB4: Noah Igbinoghene
CB5: Emmanuel Forbes
CB6: Michael Davis
The biggest depth chart takeaway from this move is how bad it looks on 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes. Quinn and his staff gave him a chance to redeem himself after a lackluster rookie campaign. It seems all hope is now lost.
With Lattimore in town, it seems unlikely that the Mississippi State product will be able to reclaim his starting spot. Forbes and Michael Davis may need to bank on special teams for a majority of their snaps.
The big question Washington needs to answer is which cornerback will stay on the outside alongside Lattimore. Rookie second-rounder Mike Sainristil has had some very solid moments over the last few weeks, but Benjamin St-Juste may not have the quick feet needed to excel in that position.
This is still a good problem for Quinn to have. After getting torched by subpar quarterbacks in the early parts of the year, Lattimore could be the missing piece to a Washington defense that is finally starting to keep pace with their breakneck offense in 2024.