Jayden Daniels, Commanders Hyped as Contender by NFL Fans After Lattimore Trade

Some Washington Commanders fans believe their team's moves at the Tuesday trade deadline have brought Jayden Daniels one step closer to a Super Bowl.

The Commanders dealt draft capital to the New Orleans Saints in order to acquire Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore on Tuesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday.

The Saints received a third-round pick, fourth-round pick and sixth-rounder pick in exchange for Lattimore, whom the Commanders acquired alongside a fifth-rounder, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The trade came after general manager Adam Peters acquired a third-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in the August trade of wideout Jahan Dotston.

The Commanders sit on top of the NFC East with a 7-2 record. Lattimore could make his D.C. debut on Sunday in Week 10 action against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, although he was inactive for Week 9 with a hamstring injury.

After finishing the 2023 season at the bottom of the NFC East with a 4-13 record, the Dallas Cowboys' struggles and Daniels' rookie-season success have the Commanders competing for the top of the division.

The Lattimore trade cemented their status in some fans' mind as postseason contenders.

Some fans even questioned if the Commanders could challenge the Detroit Lions, who improved to 7-1 last Sunday with a Week 9 win over the Green Bay Packers, for the top spot in the NFC.

Lattimore earned four Pro Bowl nominations, including three straight between 2019 and 2021, during his eight seasons with the Saints. He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 after recording five defensive interceptions in his first NFL season.

So far in 2024 Lattimore had recorded two passes defensed and 30 combined tackles in seven starts.

He was inactive for Week 9 after leaving a Week 8 game early with the hamstring issue. The cornerback also missed one game earlier this season after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1.

Despite the injury concerns, which have led to Lattimore missing time every season since 2018, the move will allow the Commanders upgrade their secondary while moving rookie Mikey Sainristil back to the slot and Benjamin St-Juste to the role of CB2.

Lattimore will play out the season on a minimum deal after the Saints restructured his deal earlier this season, Schefter noted, and is on the books for a non-guaranteed $18 million in 2025.

The Commanders will hope to have him healthy by Week 11 in Philadelphia, where Lattimore could help limit Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' passing options in a Thursday night battle for the top of the NFC East.