The Washington Commanders are making waves as they pursue a playoff spot, taking decisive action before the NFL trade deadline.

With hours to spare before the trading window closed, the Commanders reached a deal with the New Orleans Saints to bring cornerback Marshon Lattimore on board.

In this exchange, the Saints will gain a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick, while the Commanders will receive a fifth-round pick.

By adding the four-time Pro Bowl player, the 7-2 Commanders have addressed a major weakness in their roster. On the other hand, the Saints are concentrating on rebuilding after dismissing coach Dennis Allen just the day before.

Let’s assess how both teams came out in this trade.

Commanders Evaluation: B+

This move brings significant talent to the table. Lattimore, at 28, is known for his strong coverage skills and has made 15 career interceptions, making him a key playmaker. Despite the Saints’ struggles this season, he has achieved his best stats yet, giving up only 5.2 yards per target and allowing a low passer rating of 69.1 when he is the target, according to Pro Football Reference. Despite the steep price in draft picks—especially since Washington already had an extra third-round pick from an earlier trade with the Eagles for Jahan Dotson—Lattimore’s consistent performance mitigates some of the risk. This trade proves beneficial as it allows rookie Mike Sainristil to revert to his preferred position in the slot and is not just a temporary fix. However, health might be a concern since Lattimore has missed 19 games since 2022 and is also coping with a hamstring issue. Additionally, he has a remaining contract worth $36.5 million over the next two years, but Washington is well-positioned to handle that financial commitment.

Saints Evaluation: B+

The Saints continue their rebuilding process. Given they did not have many valuable assets to trade for extra draft picks, moving Lattimore makes strategic sense. The acquired picks will be beneficial as they seek to build a competitive roster while dealing with salary cap challenges in the future. With cornerbacks like Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans is well set up for cornerback positions going forward.