Bengals make roster moves after NFL trade deadline

Some roster moves and injured reserve news for the Bengals right after the NFL trade deadline.

The Cincinnati Bengals made some notable roster moves after Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline saw them bring aboard running back Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears.

There, the team moved running back Zack Moss and tight end Erick All Jr. to injured reserve.

Based on how the team has talked about Moss’ sudden neck injury — discovered last Friday — he won’t be back this season, barring a shocker.

As for All, the breakout rookie tight end tore his ACL during last weekend’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, suffering the injury in the same knee that derailed his draft stock last year.

Herbert’s arrival helps balance things out for the offense with Moss sidelined, as he’ll work in with Chase Brown, potentially as soon as Thursday night. Tight end was one of the team’s deepest positions, though they might look for help on something like the waiver wire if they want to keep effectively running 12 personnel.

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Contract details for new Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore

A look at how Marshon Lattimore’s contract impacts the Commanders’ salary cap.

The Washington Commanders made a huge move at Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, acquiring Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints.

The Commanders sent third-, fourth- and sixth-round selections in the 2025 NFL draft to New Orleans in exchange for Lattimore and a 2025-fifth-round selection.

Lattimore, 28, is a four-time Pro Bowler who signed a five-year, $97.6 million extension in 2021. So, in this trade, the Commanders had to take on the remaining portion of Lattimore’s contract. However, few teams are in better salary cap shape than Washington.

Before Tuesday’s trade, the Commanders had $25 million in cap space available for this season, according to Spotrac.

How does Lattimore impact Washington’s salary cap? Thanks partly to the Saints’ continuous maneuvering to stay under the cap, Lattimore’s cap number for the remainder of 2024 is $605K. New Orleans’ last restructuring of Lattimore’s deal made it much easier to deal Lattimore.

While he has two years remaining on his contract, he does have a possible out after this season. If things go well, it will make sense for the Commanders and Lattimore to continue their relationship for years to come.

Here’s a look at Lattimore’s cap numbers for the next three years:

  • 2024: $605K
  • 2025: $18 million
  • 2026: $18.5 million

Those cap numbers are excellent for a cornerback of Lattimore’s caliber. However, if he remains healthy for the final eight games and plays well, he and Washington could renegotiate the deal.

Either way, the Commanders have the salary cap room to add Lattimore’s deal and be serious players in free agency next spring. Spotrac currently has the Commanders with $104 million in cap space for 2025, with Lattimore’s numbers on the books.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s quote about NFL trade deadline says it all

Bengals QB Joe Burrow had some thoughts about his team’s showing at the NFL trade deadline.

Count Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow among those happy that the team went out and traded for running back Khalil Herbert at the NFL trade deadline.

Speaking with reporters before the Week 10 Thursday night game against the Baltimore Ravens, Burrow dropped the following one-liner: “I’m glad we went out and tried to get better.”

This comment comes on the heels of Burrow dropping a similarly revealing quote about the NFL trade deadline before last weekend’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

While some Bengals fans won’t be happy that the Bengals sat the rest of the deadline out despite obvious needs at positions like edge rusher, Herbert will indeed help the offense right away after the season-ending injury to Zack Moss.

Now, the attention will turn to whether the Bengals front office did enough to actually help the team turn the season around and reach the playoffs.

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Why Marshon Lattimore makes the Commanders defense much better

We look at how Marshon Lattimore makes Washington’s defense better. #RaiseHail

The Washington Commanders are the talk of the NFL. At 7-2 and residing atop the NFC East since Week 2, the Commanders feature one of the NFL’s top offenses, led by phenomenal rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Here are Washington’s current offensive rankings:

  • Scoring: 3rd
  • Passing offense: 11th
  • Rushing offense: 3rd
  • Total offense: 3rd
  • FTN Offensive DVOA: 2nd

As you can see, the Commanders offense isn’t the problem. And while the defense has shown improvements in recent weeks, they’ve had issues stopping the run. Washington’s pass defense is currently ranked No. 5 in the NFL, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story.

When the Commanders face a team with an elite wide receiver, the pass defense struggles. Washington has had issues against Malik Nabers, Zay Flowers, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Ja’Marr Chase.

On Tuesday, the Commanders made a bold move, trading draft picks to the New Orleans Saints for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The 28-year-old Lattimore immediately slots in as Washington’s No. 1 cornerback as the Commanders’ schedule ramps up with upcoming games against the Steelers, Eagles and Cowboys.

We know Lattimore’s history as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, but what’s he doing this season?

Lattimore is still playing at a high level, even though he’s dealt with a nagging hamstring injury this season.

Over the past four seasons, Lattimore’s numbers are even more impressive:

With Lattimore now in the burgundy and gold, the Commanders have six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Lattimore, Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes, Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene and Michael Davis.

In recent weeks, Washington has primarily used only St-Juste, Sainristil and Igbinoghene. Davis hasn’t played defense in weeks, while Forbes’ playing time continues to decrease.

It became increasingly clear that if the Commanders were going to be a contender, they’d need to improve at cornerback. Adding Lattimore allows Washington to move St-Juste into a No. 2 role while sliding the rookie Sainristil back inside at the slot position. Igbinoghene has also proven to be reliable and can play inside or outside. While Sainristil could be a Pro Bowl slot corner, he’s been impressive playing outside in recent weeks.

Washington plays Philadelphia in just over one week. The Eagles have two outstanding wideouts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but also a fantastic running game. If he’s healthy, Lattimore can be assigned to Brown. He’s known for traveling with No. 1 receivers, which allows Sainristil to match up with Smith. Sainristil is a better matchup for Smith than St-Juste, but that could vary from week to week. Having cornerbacks who can line up one on one allows defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. to commit extra resources to the run game.

The good news for Washington is that it now has four playable cornerbacks—five, depending on how you look at Forbes.

Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline was a massive victory for the Commanders.

What did Dan Quinn think of Commanders adding Marshon Lattimore?

Dan Quinn “pumped” to have Marshon Lattimore.

Washington coach Dan Quinn has coached some excellent cornerbacks during his NFL career. On Tuesday, he added another top-flight cornerback to his coaching resume when the Commanders traded for four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore.

The 28-year-old gives Washington a true No. 1 cornerback for its defense for the stretch run. The 7-2 Commanders have played much better on defense in recent weeks but had some concerns at cornerback, specifically due to the lack of Emmanuel Forbes’ development. Lattimore addresses Washington’s biggest weakness.

So, what did Quinn think of the move?

“I think first, for [GM] Adam [Peters] and his group, and you’ve heard us say it like, we’re going to keep competing in every way we can, and this was another example of how to go do that,” Quinn said in an appearance on “Moving the Chains” on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Quinn explained what the Commanders were getting in Lattimore.

“We love the toughness, his ability to play man to man and guard people. I had firsthand experience of being on the other sideline against him during some years in Atlanta. So, for him to want to go battle some of these guys he’s had to take on as a No. 1 receiver, that’s a big deal. If we had a chance to elevate who we are and how we go about doing our business, we’re going to do that. So, we’re really pumped to have him here. Ironically, he was college teammates with some of the guys we have here in Noah Brown and Terry McLaurin and others. So, we’re really pumped to add him to the crew.”

It’s unclear when Lattimore will make his Washington debut. He’s missed time this season with a nagging hamstring injury. The Commanders host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, followed by a trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles on Thursday Night Football.

How others graded the Commanders deal for Marshon Lattimore

We graded the Marshon Lattimore trade. How did others grade the move?

The Washington Commanders (7-2) significantly increased their playoff chances on Tuesday, acquiring Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

We graded the deal, giving Washington an A+ for the trade, which you can find here.

What did others think of the Lattimore trade? ESPN gave the Commanders a B+ and explained why here.

When you have a quarterback playing well on a rookie contract — even if he is literally a rookie — there is no time to waste. The window is open, and the time is now. You must go for it, so credit to the Commanders for making a move to address a major weakness at the deadline.

The Commanders are currently 31st in defensive open score against opposing wide receivers, meaning they allow their opponent’s wideouts to get open more often than expected than every team but one.

A large part of the problem was cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who has been targeted 25% of the time (second most among outside corners with at least 150 coverage snaps) and is allowing 1.9 yards per coverage snap (also second most), per NFL Next Gen Stats. Meanwhile, Lattimore has the lowest target rate among outside corners (10%) and is allowing 0.7 yards per coverage snap (third lowest). To put it simply, this is a major upgrade.

CBS Sports gave the Commanders an A-:

With an extra third-rounder in tow due to their preseason Jahan Dotson trade, Washington capitalized on New Orleans’ sudden rebuild — unofficially initiated by the team’s firing of head coach Dennis Allen — by sending a package of picks for the three-time Pro Bowl cover man.

USA Today gave the Commanders a B+:

From a talent standpoint, there’s plenty to like in this move. Lattimore, 28, is a sticky presence in coverage and also a playmaker with 15 career interceptions. Even amid the Saints’ widespread struggles, he’s yielding a career-low 5.2 yards per target while allowing a meager 69.1 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Reference. Still, this was a good bit of draft compensation to surrender, even for a team that was set to have an extra third-round pick thanks to its Jahan Dotson deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though Lattimore is a proven entity, cornerback play can be volatile, and some other high-profile deals at the position – like the Tennessee Titans’ move for L’Jarius Sneed – have gone bust. That seems less risky, however, with the overall track record exhibited by a player who will clearly upgrade a premium spot – rookie Mike Sainristil can now move back to his more natural position in the slot – and serve as more than a rental. Health could be an X-factor, as Lattimore has missed 19 games since the 2022 season and is dealing with a hamstring injury. He is also due a hefty $36.5 million in the final two years of his contract after this season, though Washington is in a solid spot to absorb the hit.

The Athletic gave the Commanders an A-, while Bleacher Report gave them a B+.

As you can see, everyone agrees this was a good move for Washington. Of course, so much depends on Lattimore’s health. He’s missed 19 games over the past three seasons. However, the Commanders are banking on Lattimore’s talent and reuniting him with some old friends (Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown) and being re-energized by playing meaningful football again.

 

Dan Quinn says Commanders elevated themselves

Washington’s defense got much better on Tuesday.

Dan Quinn will most likely fall asleep tonight, smiling.

Tuesday, the Commanders obtained Saints’ cornerback Marshon Lattimore and a fifth-round draft choice. The Commanders dealt a third, fourth, and sixth-round choice to the Saints in return for the four-time Pro Bowler.

Quinn was understandably upbeat when talking as a Sirius XM NFL Radio guest.

“We’re going to keep competing in every way that we can,” expressed Quinn. “This was another example of how to do that.”

In expressing why they were interested in making this trade, Quinn stressed, “We love his toughness, his ability to play man-to-man, to guard people.”

When Quinn was the head coach with the Falcons, he recalled Lattimore facing the top receivers in that division twice each season. Quinn said that was “a big deal.”

Quinn likes that Lattimore was Terry McLaurin’s and Noah Brown’s college teammate at Ohio State. He believes this move really gives the Commanders an opportunity to elevate themselves.

“We’re really pumped to add him to the crew,” Quinn said excitedly.

One reason might be that this addition could improve the Commanders in three positions. Lattimore becomes the top corner, Benjamin St-Juste becomes a stronger No. 2 corner, and Mike Sainristil now moves to the slot where he is most effective.

Quinn might also be glad to have Lattimore because Quinn believes in, wants, and demands competitiveness. Remember the great physical battles between Lattimore and Tampa’s Mike Evans?

Quinn might be pumped, but shouldn’t Lattimore be pumped as well? The Saints are 2-7 and just lost to the Panthers. The Commanders lost on opening day at Tampa Bay and have won 7 of 8 games since then. He was playing for a team that had only scored 207 points in nine games. Now, he partners with a team that has the fourth-highest point differential in the NFL. How much better is the quarterback room in Washington than in New Orleans?

So, sum it up like this. How many years has it been since a Washington Redskins / Commanders fan was heard saying, “This year, we are going for it.”

 

NFL trade deadline: No major trade isn’t bad news for 49ers

The 2024 NFL trade deadline came and went with the 49ers making only one, very under-the-radar move.

The 2024 edition of the NFL trade deadline came and went with the San Francisco 49ers staying relatively quiet.

The day was headlined by CB Marshon Lattimore going from the New Orleans Saints to the Washington Commanders, edge rusher Za’Darius Smith heading from the Cleveland Browns to the Detriot Lions and wide receiver Mike Williams going from the New York Jets to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite multiple veteran pieces in potential positions of need being available, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan decided to hold onto their premium draft capital and add some depth on the defensive line. Just before the deadline, San Francisco dealt a future seventh-round pick to the Houston Texans for veteran defensive tackle Khalil Davis.

While they didn’t make a major move on Tuesday, help is on the way for the 49ers.

While they’ve posted an underwhelming 4-4 record through nine weeks, it’s fair to say the 49ers have yet to be healthy at any point in the first half of the season. While they will still be missing players like Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers will be getting a boost with the return of several key players.

For the first time all season, reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey is nearing a highly-anticipated return to the field after being sidelined due to an Achilles injury. Along with McCaffrey, Brock Purdy will welcome more help offensively with the soon return of Jauan Jennings.

Jennings, who has posted a breakout campaign in 2024, has missed the last two games with a hip injury. Jennings, with the addition of McCaffrey and rookie Ricky Pearsall, will give Purdy and the 49ers offense more playmakers and depth for the stretch run of the 2024 season.

While Purdy’s offensive weapons will have more flexibility, so will the 49ers’ offensive line. Veteran offensive lineman Jon Feliciano recently had his practice window opened. Feliciano started every playoff game last season. While Dominick Puni likely wont be going anywhere, Feliciano’s return fills a whole in the 49ers offensive line depth. His return also provides competition for players like center Jake Brendel.

While the 49ers still have some question marks on the defensive line, the defensive line unit was a popular group on Tuesday’s trade deadline with players like Smith and Preston Smith being on the move. With Lynch and company not making a move, the 49ers will need to lean on one their free agent signings from the summer – Leonard Floyd.

The veteran pass rusher has had a quiet start to his campaign with the 49ers, recording 24 tackles and three sacks in eight games. Yet, over his last four games, Floyd has notched two of those sacks. If he continues that pace for the second half of the season, Floyd could check many boxes on the 49ers’ defensive front.

Coming off the bye week, the 49ers will enter the post-trade deadline run on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Grading Commanders trade for cornerback Marshon Lattimore

What grade did we give the Commanders for adding Marshon Lattimore?

The Washington Commanders made a bold move Tuesday. Washington sent three draft choices to the New Orleans Saints for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The Commanders also received a fifth-round pick in return.

Here are the full details of the trade:

New Orleans receives:

  • 2025 third-round pick
  • 2025 fourth-round pick
  • 2025 sixth-round pick

Washington receives:

  • CB Marshon Lattimore
  • 2025 fifth-round pick

So, before you think Washington gave up too much, let’s offer some perspective. The third-round pick that the Commanders sent to New Orleans was not the one they received from Philadelphia in the Jahan Dotson trade. That third-round pick belongs to Miami, which currently has a 2-6 record.

The sixth-round pick is New Orleans’ original pick received in the August trade that sent defensive tackle John Ridgeway from the Commanders to the Saints.

General manager Adam Peters was able to flip Dotson, the underachieving former first-round pick who has seven catches in eight games for the Eagles, for Lattimore while keeping the presumed better third-round.

When judging this trade, you should also consider that the Commanders have Lattimore under contract for two more seasons. They land a Pro Bowl cornerback to fill their most significant need, and Peters retains picks in the first three rounds of next year’s NFL draft. The Washington GM was able to help the 7-2 Commanders for this stretch run while not sacrificing future assets.

Grade: A+

Commanders release veteran DE after trading for Marshon Lattimore

Washington makes roster move after adding Marshon Lattimore.

The Washington Commanders traded for New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. The compensation involved Washington sending three picks to New Orleans while receiving Lattimore and a draft pick back.

Since no players departed Washington in the trade, the Commanders needed to make room on their 53-man roster, which meant releasing a player. That player is 32-year-old defensive end Efe Obada.

Obada was in his third season in Washington after initially signing as a free agent before the 2022 season. Obada played all 17 games in 2022, recording four sacks in a part-time role. Unfortunately, his 2023 season ended after five games when he suffered multiple lower leg fractures.

The Commanders re-signed Obada in the offseason and he began this season on the physically unable to perform list. Washington activated Obada, and he appeared in each of the last four games.

After trading for Lattimore, the Commanders have six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster and seven defensive linemen. Rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste is expected back soon, too.