Marshon Lattimore

Commanders Aim To Retain Marshon Lattimore Beyond 2024

December 6th, 2024 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Marshon Lattimore was known to be a trade candidate well before the 2024 season began, and to little surprise he was dealt before last month’s deadline. The Pro Bowl corner is set to make his debut with his new team (in his former home stadium) in Week 15, but he is not seen strictly as a rental.

Many players moved at or around the trade deadline are pending free agents, but Lattimore’s contract runs through 2026. He is due $36.5MM between the 2025 and ’26 seasons, but none of his base salaries for those years are guaranteed. A restructure should be expected this coming offseason as a result, but the Commanders fully intend to keep Lattimore in place for years to come.

“We wanted to get him for not only this year but as long as we can, really,” general manager Adam Peters said when discussing the Lattimore trade (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post). “He’s got two more years on his contract and the way he’s played, we want him to be a Commander for a long time.”

A shortlist of serious suitors emerged in the build-up to the trade deadline, and the Commanders ultimately outbid the Ravens, Chiefs and Chargers to acquire Lattimore. The 28-year-old served as an impact starter during his time in New Orleans, but injuries have been an issue in recent years. He is currently on pace to carry cap hits of $18MM and $18.5MM over the next two years, and lowering those figures will be a goal for Washington even if Lattimore lives up to expectations during his initial Commanders games. The team – unlike those who also engaged in a trade pursuit – does not have a veteran quarterback attached to a monster contract, something which will make it easier to keep Lattimore in place beyond 2024.

The secondary has been an issue in past years for Washington, but the team currently ranks fifth against the pass (a stark contrast to this season’s struggles against the run). The Commanders recently moved on from former first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes, and Lattimore (who has racked up 15 interceptions in his career and recorded double-digit pass deflections in each of his first five seasons) could emerge as a key figure in Washington’s CB room now and into the future. If Peters is able to meet his goal of working out a long-term arrangement, Lattimore should be expected to remain in the nation’s capital for several years.

Marshon Lattimore Expected To Make Commanders Debut In Week 15

December 3rd, 2024 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders have not seen anything from the Marshon Lattimore trade yet, having played four games without the decorated cornerback since acquiring him at the deadline. It does not look like Washington’s Lattimore-less game streak will reach five.

Heading into a Week 14 bye, the Commanders are expected to have Lattimore available when they return, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance. The Commanders travel to New Orleans in Week 15, certainly representing the most interesting place Lattimore could debut for the NFC East team.

Lattimore has been down with a hamstring injury for five weeks, missing what would have been his final Saints game due to the issue. This did not stop a heated trade market from forming. The Ravens sent the Commanders an offer featuring a third-round pick, while the Chiefs discussed the eighth-year defender with the Saints as well. The Chargers were in on Lattimore, and it took additional fourth- and sixth-round picks for Washington to pry him from New Orleans.

While the Saints are up on the scorecards early in this trade, Lattimore will have his say soon. The Commanders have seen their run defense fare worse than their pass defense this season; the team ranks ranks fifth against the pass through 13 games. The 8-5 squad also waived Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, with Schefter adding that move likely came about because of an expectation Lattimore was closing in on a return. The Rams have since claimed Forbes, taking the Commanders off the hook for more than $5MM in guaranteed base salary from now through 2026.

This Lattimore injury absence is notable, however, as the Saints saw a few nagging maladies that kept the four-time Pro Bowler off the field. As Lattimore fell out of favor with the Saints — to the point New Orleans set a non-QB dead money record by moving him at the deadline — a report indicating the team previously took issue with the corner’s overly lengthy (in the organization’s view) recoveries from past injuries. Lattimore went down with an ankle injury and missed the Saints’ final seven games last season. He missed 10 due to a lacerated kidney in 2022. Counting a Week 2 absence, the Ohio State alum has now missed six this season. Lattimore will count $31.7MM on the Saints’ 2025 cap.

The Commanders have continued to use Benjamin St-Juste as a starter, with rookie Mike Sainristil and Noah Igbinoghene seeing the second- and third-most snaps at the position. Pro Football Focus ranks the second-round pick 36th among all corners this season while slotting the two veterans outside the top 100.

Lattimore will soon check in as a hopeful fixer of sorts for Washington, though it would not completely surprise to see the boundary corner eased into action after a lengthy rehab process. Lattimore’s Saints-designed contract runs through the 2026 season, making this upcoming stretch an early gauge of the former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s form for the team.

Chiefs Discussed Marshon Lattimore Trade With Saints

November 29th, 2024 at 9:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shortly before the Saints traded Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders, a shortlist of other suitors known to be interested was in place. That included the Chiefs, a team which negotiated with New Orleans in an effort to work out a deal.

“We understood a [2025 third-round pick] might be involved, but we had to retain some [future picks],” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said, via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor (subscription required). “We approached New Orleans and wanted to do some different pick-swap ideas.”

In the end, the Saints sent the four-time Pro Bowler and a 2025 fifth-round selection to the Commanders for third-, fourth- and sixth-rounders in the upcoming draft. Kansas City represented a logical suitor for Lattimore given the season-ending injury suffered by Jaylen Watson. That ailment, coupled with the offseason trade of fellow corner L’Jarius Sneed, has left the defending champions short on established cover men aside from Trent McDuffie. As was the case with the Ravens, though, the Chiefs were outbid.

“If that was last year, we wouldn’t have made that call,” Veach added. “But there was a sense of, ‘Hey, if we can do this and not mortgage our future completely, then let’s try it.’”

Since Watson suffered a fractured ankle, Kansas City’s secondary has faced struggles and the team currently ranks 18th against the pass. The AFC’s No. 1 seed has exceled in one-score games this year in large part due to the team’s strength against the run, but adding Lattimore would have provided a notable boost to the CB room. Instead, he is set to debut for the Commanders soon; since he is on the books for two more years, Washington’s trade acquisition of Lattimore is not strictly a rental like many in-season swaps.

The Chiefs were active on that front, adding receiver DeAndre Hopkins and edge rusher Josh Uche ahead of the deadline. Both players are pending free agents, so they are in position to help Kansas City’s efforts at a three-peat on a short-term basis. Lattimore would have represented a lengthier commitment had a deal been worked out, but the Chiefs will instead move forward with their incumbent cornerback options.

Ravens Trade For Calais Campbell Fell Short

November 9th, 2024 at 10:18pm CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens were especially aggressive at the trade deadline as they looked to improve their defense. The team made an aggressive bid for Marshon Lattimore before landing Tre’Davious White from the Rams. If the front office had their way, they also would have reunited with an old friend.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Ravens were close to completing a trade with the Dolphins for defensive tackle Calais Campbell. However, the deal ultimately fell apart at the last minute.

The veteran defensive lineman had a three-year stint in Baltimore between 2020 and 2022, starting 40 of his 41 appearances. Over that span, he collected 11 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 36 QB hits, and he got into another three playoff games for the organization. Campbell was cut by the team at the end of the 2022 campaign and caught on with the Falcons, where he spent one season.

The 38-year-old joined the Dolphins this past offseason and has started all eight of his appearances for his new squad, collecting 28 tackles and two sacks. Despite getting up there in age, Campbell still ranks fourth on Pro Football Focus’ rankings of interior defensive lineman, an improvement from his 23rd-place showing in 2023. The Ravens could have used some DL depth with Michael Pierce sitting on injured reserve and Brent Urban dealing with a concussion.

As for the trade they did make, Breer notes that White agreed to remove all playing-time incentives to help facilitate a trade to Baltimore.

Ravens Offered Third-Round Pick For Marshon Lattimore

November 8th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens’ trade deadline moves were a bit anticlimactic, especially considering that Baltimore is thought to be a contender in a championship window who should be receiving the full allotment of compensatory draft picks in 2025. It appears that the Ravens’ lackluster result wasn’t necessarily for lack of trying, as Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that Baltimore put in an offer to trade for former Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

According to Breer, the Ravens offered up a third-round pick for the veteran cornerback. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports adds that this was initially a battle of the AFC’s top contenders as the Chiefs and Ravens each attempted to acquire Lattimore, but Washington, a blooming contender in their own right, swooped in at the final moment to outbid them.

Per Schultz, the Commanders saw their extensive draft capital in the upcoming offseason and their top-four cap space for 2025 and decided to acquire Lattimore as another building block for the next few seasons. Breer reports that Lattimore initially wasn’t even being made available. It wasn’t until former head coach Dennis Allen got fired that the Saints started hearing out offers on the defender.

He adds that Lattimore wasn’t the only Ravens trade target for whom the team fell short. Breer relays that Baltimore also was on the homestretch to reacquire defensive lineman Calais Campbell from the Dolphins. The aging veteran spent three years with the Ravens from 2020-22, making a Pro Bowl (the sixth of his career) during his time with the team. In eight games in Miami this year, Campbell hasn’t really shown his usual production but still could’ve been a crucial addition to a Ravens defensive line that applies plenty of pressure but often struggles to finish.

Instead, the Ravens held on to their likely 11 draft picks for 2025 (seven rounds plus four compensatory picks), acquiring wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Panthers for a 2025 late-round pick swap and oft-injured veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White and the Rams 2027 seventh-round pick for a seventh- of their own in 2026.

One of the league’s more consistent franchises when it comes to the draft, those 11 picks can be crucial for the future, but it’s likely frustrating for fans who watch the team’s 32nd-ranked pass defense and who realize just how quickly championship windows can close.

Commanders Acquire Marshon Lattimore From Saints

November 5th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders’ push to add Marshon Lattimore has resulted in an agreement. The veteran corner is headed from New Orleans to Washington, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal is now official.

The Saints had been asking for a Day 2 pick in the 2025 draft, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. An agreement on that front has now been reached, and Lattimore will be on the move for the first time in his career. The four-time Pro Bowler had spent seven-plus seasons in New Orleans. He will be eligible to return to the Superdome on December 15 when the two teams meet.

Here is the full breakdown of the trade terms, courtesy of veteran insider Josina Anderson and ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Commanders receive:

Lattimore
Fifth-round pick

Saints receive:

Third-round pick
Fourth-round selection
New Orleans’ original sixth-rounder exchanged in the John Ridgeway trade

Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero notes all picks being swapped are for the year 2025. New Orleans will look to restock at a few positions this spring, with cornerback likely being one of them. Lattimore had served as a full-time starter during his tenure with the team, and Paulson Adebo – who is out for the year with a broken leg – is a pending free agent. Multiple new starters could be added in the secondary as a result.

A report from earlier today indicated talks on the Lattimore front were heating up, and multiple teams were believed to be in play. Among them were the Commanders, whose approach to the deadline has no doubt been influenced by the team’s surprisingly strong start to the 2024 campaign. Washington sits atop the NFC East at 7-2, and adding in the secondary could aid the team’s chances of remaining on track for a home postseason game. Lattimore is not strictly a rental, however.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year adjusted his contract this offseason, something which has been commonplace for years in New Orleans with the team constantly in need of cap relief. Lattimore is only owed the remainder of his $1.21MM base salary for this season, a figure the Commanders can easily afford. For the 2025 and ’26 campaigns, though, he is due a total of $36.5MM. Much of that comes in the form of non-guaranteed base salaries which, coupled with modest option bonuses, have him on track for major cap hits in each of the next two years.

An adjustment will therefore be likely upon arrival in Washington or at least after the current season is over. In the meantime, Lattimore will provide the Commanders with an impact defender capable of aiding the their secondary. That unit has had plenty of room for improvement for some time now, especially with last year’s first-round investment in Emmanuel Forbes not panning out. His market is being gauged ahead of this afternoon’s deadline, and it will be interesting to see if a deal is worked out now that Lattimore is headed to the nation’s capital.

In any case, the likes of Benjamin St-Juste and second-round rookie Mike Sainristil will now have a new contributor alongside them in the Commanders’ secondary. Washington already ranks fifth against the pass this season, but the team sits mid-pack in total and scoring defense and has recorded only three interceptions. Lattimore has just two picks since the start of the 2022 campaign, but his previous ball production could add a key element to his new team’s defense.

The Commanders’ pursuit of a starting-caliber corner included calling the Jets about D.J. Reed, Russini reports. To little surprise, they were told the pending free agent is not available with New York still eyeing a run at the postseason in 2024. Washington’s contingency plan has resulted in a notable deal, though, and Lattimore could help the team remain among the NFC’s best teams through the second half of the year.

Trade Rumors: Slayton, Lattimore, Broncos

November 5th, 2024 at 1:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumblings about the Steelers pursuing both Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton surfaced days before the deadline. While no real traction has come out regarding Sutton — one of the NFL’s 2020s trade-rumor pillars — Slayton is still in play to be moved. The Giants wide receiver indeed came up during a Steelers push that concluded with a Mike Williams addition, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noting Pittsburgh “took a hard look” at the sixth-year New York pass catcher.

Slayton has shown ability as a deep threat in the Big Apple, helping the Giants after a few of their past WR plans have gone awry. We are in crunch time for Big Blue regarding a trade of either Slayton or Azeez Ojulari, with the deadline looming in less than two hours. Slayton is finishing up a two-year, $12MM deal but is attached to barely $1MM in remaining salary. The Giants keeping Slayton would open the door to a potential compensatory reward if he leaves as a 2025 free agent.

Here is the latest from the trade market:

The Ravens also explored a trade for Marshon Lattimore, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Chiefs and Chargers joined the Commanders in being in on the Pro Bowl cornerback, but a three-pick package sent him to Washington. Baltimore has Marlon Humphrey and used a first-round pick on Nate Wiggins. Pro Football Focus, however, has graded boundary starter Brandon Stephens 95th overall at the position this season. Lattimore, his injury trouble notwithstanding, would have been an upgrade on Stephens in a Humphrey-fronted position group. Both Lattimore and Humphrey entered the NFL as 2017 first-round picks.
Although the Broncos are likely to see another deadline pass without dealing Sutton, some around the league are wondering about Javonte Williams‘ status. The fourth-year back has not quite looked the same since his ACL and LCL tears in 2022, though he has produced at points for this year’s 5-4 team. Still, execs are wondering about Williams’ trade availability, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, due to rumors Denver is planning to give rookie Audric Estime a bigger workload. Estime, however, has fumbled twice — despite logging only 15 carries. Williams has also lost two fumbles, and given his form since the injury and Estime being signed through 2027, teams may be touching base with the Broncos about their contract-year RB.
Rodney McLeod does not want to be part of a Browns exodus. Announcing before the season he intends to retire, McLeod said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) he does not want to be moved off the 2-7 team’s roster. “I’m riding with this team,” McLeod said. “I’m in the boat. I’m not looking to escape.” The Browns have traded Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith and cut Quinton Jefferson. They may well be done for the day, however, with Fowler adding talks about other players have not produced a deal.

Commanders, Chargers Among Suitors For Saints’ Marshon Lattimore

November 5th, 2024 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Marshon Lattimore remains a name to watch closely as the Saints face the possibility of dealing away their high-profile corner. The Chiefs have already been connected to pursuing a trade, but they are not alone in that regard.

The Commanders are a “real contender” to land the four-time Pro Bowler, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. Washington has recently been linked to an addition at the cornerback spot, so today’s update comes as little surprise. The NFC East leaders rank outside the top 10 in total and scoring defense, so adding on that side of the ball would make sense. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds the Commanders have made a “hard push” on the Lattimore front.

Washington is gauging the market for 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes, who has not lived up to his draft stock so far. A different regime (head coach Dan Quinn, general manager Adam Peters) is in place than the one which selected him, a factor which often comes into play when young players are dealt. Trading away Forbes would open up a roster spot for Lattimore, although other moves could obviously achieve that goal. In any case, the Commanders could stand to add to a secondary which is led at corner by Benjamin St-Juste and second-round rookie Mike Sainristil.

Rapoport’s report notes at least two suitors beyond Kansas City and Washington are likely in play; indeed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s latest Pat McAfee Show appearance lists four teams in the contender category (video link). The Chargers are among them, he adds. Los Angeles’ defense has seen a dramatic turnaround this season under head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, with the unit leading the league in points allowed (12.6 per game). Adding a corner of Lattimore’s caliber would give the team a notable boost in the secondary.

The former Defensive Player of the Year remained mainly healthy through his first five seasons. Since then, however, injuries have been an issue, one which contending teams have taken into account while contemplating a potential deal. A third-round pick was floated earlier today as a possible price to get a deal over the finish line, and Schefter concurs capital in that vicinity is likely in play. He adds a deal is likely to be finalized given the advance nature of talks and the multitude of suitors vying to acquire Lattimore.

New Orleans sits at 2-7 on the year, making them an obvious seller’s candidate. Especially with head coach Dennis Allen no longer in place, it would come as no surprise if Lattimore were to be moved. Term remains on his contract, one which will likely be restructured by an acquiring team.

Trade Talks On Saints’ Marshon Lattimore Intensifying

November 5th, 2024 at 10:52am CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints have moved on from head coach Dennis Allen, although that decision is not expected to pave the way for a mass sell-off of veterans ahead of today’s trade deadline. One name in particular remains the subject of considerable attention, however.

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore once again finds himself as a trade target. As the deadline approaches, veteran insider Josina Anderson reports talks are “warming up,” adding that multiple suitors are in play. A high third-round pick could be sufficient in this case, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleansFootball.com. A report from this past weekend named the Chiefs as a suitor for the four-time Pro Bowler.

Kansas City has already added on offense (receiver DeAndre Hopkins) and defense (edge rusher Josh Uche) in advance of the deadline. The defending champions improved to 8-0 last night, so they represent an obvious candidate to make further moves over the coming hours. Kansas City could use a starting-caliber corner with Jaylen Watson unlikely to return this season.

Lattimore’s Saints future has long been a talking point, and in the build-up to the draft teams were aware he was on the market. In the end, New Orleans elected to keep the 28-year-old in the fold (although a trade was contemplated). Having received an option bonus just before the start of the year, Lattimore is only owed the outstanding portion of his $1.21MM base salary in 2024.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is also under contract for the 2025 and ’26 seasons as one of many Saints who have been involved in cap-related financial adjustments. Lattimore is due base salaries of $16MM and $16.5MM for those years, but none of that compensation is guaranteed. On March 20 of next year (as well as the one after), he is due a $2MM roster bonus, though. That, along with scheduled cap hits of $31.41MM and $28.56MM, make his pact one in need of further alterations in the event a trade were to be worked out.

Lattimore has spent his entire eight-year career with the Saints, starting all 97 of his appearances. The Ohio State product has dealt with multiple injuries in recent years, a factor which potential suitors are taking into account. Nevertheless, he could provide effective play in coverage for any number of teams looking for a boost in the secondary. Teams have until 3:00pm central to finalize a trade involving Lattimore or any other players the 2-7 Saints could be willing to part with.

Chiefs Among Teams Interested In Saints CB Marshon Lattimore; KC Also Targeting Another WR?

November 3rd, 2024 at 10:39pm CST by Rory Parks

Trade rumors swirled around Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore this offseason, and with the trade deadline just two days away, those rumors are picking up again. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, multiple teams have called New Orleans about Lattimore, including the Chiefs.

Kansas City has already made two notable trades in the last couple of weeks, acquiring WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans and DE Josh Uche from the Patriots. However, both Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) indicate that the defending champions may not be done, with Russini noting that another receiver and a “young, fast corner” are on the club’s wish list.

Lattimore, 28, may not fit the sports world’s definition of “young,” but he is a four-time Pro Bowler who is still playing at a high level. Through seven games in 2024, Lattimore has attained a 71.6 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, the 26th-highest mark in the league out of 110 qualifiers. He has also yielded a modest 69.1 rating to opposing quarterbacks.

The Saints entertained the possibility of dealing Lattimore this offseason before deciding to retain the No. 11 overall pick of the 2017 draft, and they do have him under club control through 2026. As such, it may take a premium package to convince GM Mickey Loomis to pull the trigger, and FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz says it is unclear how interested Loomis might be in a Lattimore trade.

Plus, as Schefter observes, Lattimore’s health could give would-be suitors pause. Lattimore will miss today’s matchup with the Panthers due to a hamstring ailment, which already forced him to miss the club’s Week 2 contest. He also dealt with a hip injury in training camp. So, while Schultz acknowledges that a loss to lowly Carolina – which would drop the Saints to 2-7 – could convince Loomis to make multiple moves, Lattimore may not be one of the players leaving New Orleans.

The Chiefs, for the second year in a row, are winning games with their defense, as star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown just eight TDs against a league-worst nine interceptions. However, KC has lost starting CB Jaylen Watson for the season due to a fractured ankle, and adding Lattimore as a bookend to fellow boundary corner and First Team All-Pro performer Trent McDuffie would further strengthen DC Steve Spagnuolo’s already stout unit, which presently ranks fifth in the league in total defense.

The Chiefs’ WR corps was a weak spot for much of the 2023 campaign, and the club looked to solidify that group by selecting Xavier Worthy in the first round of this year’s draft and adding Marquise Brown in free agency. While Worthy has flashed at times, Brown suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in August, and Rashee Rice was lost for the year with a knee injury in Week 4. A late summer addition, JuJu Smith-Schuster, is battling a hamstring malady, and Skyy Moore recently landed on injured reserve with a core muscle injury. So, even with Hopkins now in the fold, it makes sense that the Chiefs would look for another pass-catcher to help Mahomes and the offense get back on track.

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