Trade deadline: Steelers next opponent makes…
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a productive day at the trade deadline as they made multiple acquisitions. Not only did the Steelers make some splash, they watched their next opponent get much more challenging. Multiple reports on Tuesday indicated the New Orleans Saints traded Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders.
Lattimore, a former first-round pick out of Ohio State, was drafted in 2017 by the New Orleans Saints. After earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Lattimore made four Pro Bowls and earned a massive 5-year $97.6M contract before the 2021 season. This move comes as a surprise as the Commanders made such an aggressive move to bolster its secondary.
The Commanders’ season has been a relatively unexpected one as they sit at 7-2. They hired Russell Wilson’s former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as head coach, made multiple interesting free agent acquisitions, drafted Jayden Daniels with the number 2 overall pick, and moved on from the previous regime’s players. These moves have paid off as the Commanders lead their division and are eyeing the top seed in the NFC.
A response to the Commanders and other moves for the Steelers was the acquisition of former Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams. They had been in the market for a receiver ever since trading Diontae Johnson. Additionally, they acquired former Washington Commander edge rusher Preston Smith from Green Bay.
The Steelers will be in for a challenging final nine games that includes the Commanders, all six divisional opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.
