The New Orleans Saints are in a great spot compared to the previous few years as a franchise. Tyler Shough is awesome, but the rest of their rookie class is great as well.
Their nine-player 2025 NFL Draft class was incredible. While Shough is the headliner, some very nice late Day 2 and Day 3 picks have panned out already. And that’s thanks in large part to one move they made at the 2024 NFL trade deadline.
The Saints traded Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders for a haul. And as Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team brought up in the wake of the Commanders cutting Lattimore, the Saints trade return has aged incredibly well.
Saints-Commanders’ trade for Marshon Lattimore has aged well for New Orleans
At the NFL trade deadline in 2024, the Saints traded Lattimore and a 2025 fifth-round pick in exchange for three 2025 draft picks in the third (No. 93 overall), fourth (No. 131), and sixth (No. 184).
The Commanders got 11 games out of Lattimore and used the fifth-rounder for one season of Deebo Samuel, who is also slated to leave the Commanders after one year.
Meanwhile, the Saints turned the draft picks they got back into safety Jonas Sanker (third round), cornerback Quincy Riley (fourth-round), and running back Devin Neal (sixth-round).
Sanker started 16 games for the Saints, recording two interceptions, six passes defended, one fumble recovery, 80 total tackles, and three tackles for loss.
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Riley started only five games, but played in all 17. He recorded one interception, 10 passes defended, one forced fumble, 35 tackles, and allowed a 96 passer rating in his rookie year.
Lastly, Neal played in 10 games, making two starts in an injury-shortened season. But, before his injury, he ran for 207 yards and two touchdowns on 57 attempts. He also caught 17 passes on 19 targets for 104 yards.
All three draft picks the Saints got in return for Lattimore turned into solid players right away. Sanker is a great starting safety, and Riley and Neal could very easily become solid starters in the league as well.
And most importantly, the Saints have all three of these players under contract for the next three seasons on very cheap contracts. This trade was a amssive win for the Saints, and this release of Lattimore only further proves that point right.
