The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints nearly finalized a high-profile trade that would have sent cornerback Marshon Lattimore to the reigning Super Bowl champions. While Lattimore ultimately ended up with the Washington Commanders alongside a fifth-round pick, the Saints received third-, fourth-, and sixth-round selections in the 2025 NFL Draft in return. Despite the Commanders’ hopes of bolstering their struggling defense, the trade has yet to deliver results, as Lattimore has been sidelined by injuries since joining his new team.
Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach recently disclosed Kansas City’s attempt to acquire Lattimore before the deal with Washington was finalized. According to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, Veach revealed the Chiefs were unwilling to part with a third-round pick and other assets to secure the cornerback. “We understood a [2025 third-round pick] might be involved, but we had to retain some [draft picks].
We approached New Orleans with alternative pick-swap ideas. If it were last year, we wouldn’t have made that call, but there was a sense of, ‘If we can do this without mortgaging our future, let’s try it.’”
The Chiefs may have avoided a misstep by not acquiring Lattimore. While the four-time Pro Bowler was once among the league’s best, persistent injuries have derailed his performance. He played only 17 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, with injuries continuing into 2024. New Orleans capitalized on his trade value while they could, while the Commanders have struggled since his acquisition, losing three straight games and falling out of the NFC East race.
Though Kansas City missed out on Lattimore, they bolstered their roster by acquiring wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, edge rusher Josh Uche, and free-agent offensive tackle D.J. Humphries. However, with cornerback Jaylen Watson sidelined for the season, the team faces a glaring need at CB2. Former All-Pro Xavien Howard, now a free agent, could be a short-term solution. While not at his peak, Howard’s ball-hawking skills might provide the secondary stability the Chiefs need to solidify their quest for a third consecutive championship.
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