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John Keim, ESPN writer
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders began the season enjoying their roster and thinking it still needed work. Even a month ago, it’s doubtful they would have planned to do what they did Tuesday: strengthen their roster for a stretch run. But a 7-2 start accelerated Washington’s thinking, resulting in the Commanders sending three draft picks to the New Orleans Saints for former Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
The cost was not cheap. Washington gave the Saints third- and fourth-round picks, plus a sixth-round pick it acquired from them in the summer. Nor was it prohibitive; He filled a glaring need with a proven No. 1 cornerback still in his prime. In all, as one league source put it, Washington addressed an immediate need without mortgaging its future.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has earned praise (and calls for MVP votes from experts) for his performance this season. That, plus having a rookie contract, made this trade desirable, giving the NFL’s third-highest scoring offense a better defense to back it up.
The addition of Lattimore allows Benjamin St-Juste to be the No. 2 cornerback, which will give him better matchups on the outside. It also allows rookie Mike Sainristil to return to the interior, where Washington envisioned him after drafting him in the second round last spring. Sainristil had moved out of necessity, but Washington now has two bigger corners for the roles of Lattimore and St-Juste. At 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, Sainristil fits better than speedy inside receivers.
Lattimore, 28, has excelled in man coverage throughout his eight-year career, which should give defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. more variety in his plays. Playing in the NFC East, Washington has to face receivers like Philadelphia’s AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb and New York’s Malik Nabers twice a year, and the addition of Lattimore helps Washington match up better.
The trade was also symbolic. This time last year, as the first step in dismantling previous regimes, the Commanders traded former first-round defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the deadline to the 49ers and Bears, respectively.
The franchise finished 4-13, but since then, an organization that had failed for more than two decades under previous owner Dan Snyder has transformed itself. The players are excited, the fans are excited, the team is winning… and it’s been a long time since those three statements could be included together.
Financially, Lattimore, who is under contract through 2026, counts $16 million and $16.5 million against the cap in those years. But without guaranteed money, Washington could rework his contract and perhaps soften the cap hits.
General manager Adam Peters has often said he wants to build through the draft and fill needs in free agency. That does not change with this movement. Washington still has seven draft picks in 2025 and can bolster the roster with picks in each of the first three rounds. Washington has a third-round pick acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for catcher Jahan Dotson as well. The Commanders also received a fifth rounder from New Orleans.
The Commanders entered Tuesday with the second-most cap space in 2025, according to Roster Management System. His cap space was around $95 million before the trade. But they can free up another $17 million by releasing veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who is on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. They also have approximately $23 million in cap space that they can potentially carry over to next year. Lattimore costs just $605,000 against his cap this season.
Despite that cap space, Washington will have plenty of roster spots to fill. The Commanders have 30 players under contract for next season, and key veterans such as linebacker Bobby Wagner, tight end Zach Ertz, running back Austin Ekeler, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. and safety Jeremy Chinn signed one-year contracts last offseason. .
However, a big key to making the deal a success will be Lattimore’s health. He hasn’t played a full season since 2021 and has missed a combined 19 games over the past three years, including two this season with a hamstring injury. If he is fully fit, he will be a huge boost for Washington’s defence.
A year ago, Washington was heading toward a collapse with great uncertainty.
Today, the Commanders continue to build toward a promising future, one that arrived much sooner than anticipated.
