The New Orleans Saints dealt Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders and have looked like geniuses ever since. The Commanders opting to release Lattimore, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, less than 2 years after the deal further cements the Saints as clear cut winners of the trade.
Lattimore will be remembered fondly for his time with the Saints. He was one of the best cornerbacks in the league in his prime. He came out the gate as the Defensive Rookie of the Year and was one of the biggest catalysts around the Saints' quick defensive turnaround. Unfortunately, Commanders fans won't share the same sentiment for the cornerback.
Lattimore's time in Washington was short lived. He only played two games in the regular season for the Commanders before missing two more games to close the season and returning for the playoffs. This year, he suffered a torn ACL halfway through the season. Injuries were common in his final years with the Saints, and it unfortunately carried over to his time with the Commanders.
The Marshon Lattimore trade is the best deal the Saints have made in a long time
That feels like such a harsh thing to say about the best cornerback in franchise history, but it also is far from unfair. The whispers of a deal had been around for a couple of years. The team finally pulled the trigger in 2024. The compensation plus Lattimore's ensuing play have made this a huge win for Mickey Loomis.
Lattimore played well for the Saints in his final season, but you couldn't tell when he joined the Commanders. The hamstring injury that Lattimore suffered at the end of his time in New Orleans could have been the cause of diminished results. Some suspected the injury was just a way for him to avoid playing for the Saints, but that was debunked when he missed the first handful of starts after the trade.
Whatever the reason, Lattimore just hasn't been the player the Commanders thought they were receiving in the trade. He isn't the player they dealt a third, fourth and a fifth in last year's draft for. A steep dip in Lattimore's play suggests the trade was well timed, and the Saints getting a strong haul in return takes the deal up to a new level.
You can collect all the draft picks you want, but it's meaningless if used incorrectly. The Saints turned those selections into Jonas Sanker, Quincy Riley and Devin Neal. Sanker and Riley already look like building blocks of the defense. Neal had a solid showing in his rookie campaign, but an injury and limited opportunities leave him with more to prove before praise is heaped.
The Saints 2025 draft class was one of the best in the league, and it set up a strong foundation for Kellen Moore's first season. You can make a strong argument that the class wouldn't be what it was without the Lattimore trade. A third of the Saints' picks came from the trade with the Commanders. Without a doubt, the Lattimore trade is a win for the Saints then and now.