Marshon Lattimore Washington CommandersDerick E. Hingle/Getty Images

Washington owner Josh Harris also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. Saints owner Gayle Benson also owns the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. On Tuesday, they orchestrated a buzzer-beater trade that provided Benson some much-needed financial relief. Benson and the cap-strapped Saints, who terminated head coach Dennis Allen Monday, sent four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore to the DMV.

And while Washington addressed its shallow secondary in acquiring Lattimore, the Commanders have yet to address what some think is an even larger hole, their lack of a pass rush. Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and longtime CBS analyst Pete Prisco engaged in an animated discussion on CBS Sports HQ after the Lattimore trade Tuesday.

“They gave a lot of draft capital, so you’ve got to balance whether you give all your future away,” Spielman said Tuesday. “I think they’ve shown enough on they’ve accomplished so far this year. This is a great move and I don’t think they’ll do anything else because we still have to balance out, still have to build this football team, and we can’t do it if we don’t have the draft capital.”

Prisco disagreed, saying the Commanders need to pursue a pass-rusher if they want to play deep into the playoffs.

“They’re at a point now where you look at their roster and look at their defense and say, ‘Who’s the guy who’s going to knock somebody down consistently when it’s time to get sack-fumble-game-over?’ Prisco said. “And they don’t have that.”

Whether they agree on the need for an edge-rusher, most agree that the pass-rush void is the only question the Commanders haven’t answered to this point. They just swept the Giants, a team that had given Washington issues in the past. They have a franchise quarterback, a Daniels Miracle Victory, and a rejuvenated fanbase. The Commanders haven’t had a letdown, either, answering a hard-fought loss to Baltimore in Week 6 with a three-game winning streak. Players even reportedly are asking their teams to trade them to Washington.

Lattimore’s first assignment in Dan Quinn’s defense: Russell Wilson and a showdown with the Steelers (6-2) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). Washington also is scheduled to play Lattimore’s former team, New Orleans, at the Caesars Superdome on Dec. 15.

For more information on the Commanders, visit the Washington team site.Washington owner Josh Harris also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. Saints owner Gayle Benson also owns the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. On Tuesday, they orchestrated a slam-dunk trade, especially after Harris provided Benson some much-needed financial relief. The salary-cap-strapped Saints, who terminated head coach Dennis Allen Monday, sent four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore to the DMV.

And while Washington addressed its shallow secondary in acquiring Lattimore, some think the Commanders didn’t address an even larger hole, their lack of a pass rush. Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and longtime CBS analyst Pete Prisco engaged in an animated discussion on CBS Sports HQ after the Lattimore trade Tuesday.

“They gave a lot of draft capital, so you’ve got to balance whether you give all your future away,” Spielman said Tuesday. “I think they’ve shown enough on they’ve accomplished so far this year. This is a great move and I don’t think they’ll do anything else because we still have to balance out, still have to build this football team, and we can’t do it if we don’t have the draft capital.”

Prisco disagreed, saying the Commanders need to pursue a pass-rusher if they want to play deep into the playoffs.

“They’re at a point now where you look at their roster and look at their defense and say, ‘Who’s the guy who’s going to knock somebody down consistently when it’s time to get sack-fumble-game-over?’ Prisco said. “And they don’t have that.”

Whether they agree on the need for an edge-rusher, most agree that the pass-rush void is the only question the Commanders haven’t answered to this point. They just swept the Giants, a team that had given Washington issues in the past. They have a franchise quarterback, a Daniels Miracle Victory, and a rejuvenated fanbase. The Commanders haven’t had a letdown, either, answering a hard-fought loss to Baltimore in Week 6 with a three-game winning streak. Players even reportedly are asking their teams to trade them to Washington.

Lattimore’s first assignment in Dan Quinn’s defense: Russell Wilson and a showdown with the Steelers (6-2) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). Washington also is scheduled to play Lattimore’s former team, New Orleans, at the Caesars Superdome on Dec. 15.

For more information on the Commanders, visit the Pro Football Post Washington team site.


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By Zak Gilbert

Since his freshman year at the University of Colorado, Zak Gilbert has worked 30 years in sports, including 18 NFL seasons. He's spent time with four NFL teams, serving as head of communications for both the Raiders and Browns. A veteran of nine Super Bowls, he most recently worked six seasons in the NFL's New York league office.

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