The Dallas Cowboys are not the worst team in the NFL, but they are currently the league's laughingstock. It's a tight race with the New Orleans Saints, but that Dallas is even in the conversation is a damning indictment on those who run the franchise.
Even though they are 3-5 and will be without Dak Prescott for an extended period of time, the Cowboys went out and traded for Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. On the surface, taking a flier on a 23-year-old wideout with a strong athletic profile is a fine move.
However, the Cowboys grossly overpaid for Mingo, sending a 2025 fifth-round pick to Carolina, proving once again that this front office can't negotiate.
It was only a matter of time until another team struck a deal that made the Mingo trade look even worse. To add insult to injury, the architect was none other than Dan Quinn.
Quinn and the 7-2 Commanders made the biggest trade of deadline day, acquiring lockdown cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the Saints for a trio of 2025 draft picks: a third-rounder, a fourth-rounder and a sixth.
Dan Quinn embarrasses Cowboys with blockbuster Marshon Lattimore trade
Full trade details ⬇️
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) November 5, 2024
Saints receive: 2025 3rd-round pick, 2025 4th-round pick, 2025 6th-round pick
We receive: CB Marshon Lattimore, 2025 5th-round pickhttps://t.co/YoSnxVhB7M
The Commanders recognize their window with rookie phenom quarterback Jayden Daniels is wide open. Regardless of whether they make it far this season, this is exactly what teams with a budding young QB on a rookie deal should be doing.
Quinn's defense has punched above its weight class, but they had a glaring need for a top cornerback. Lattimore now spearheads a talented group that includes Benjamin St-Juste, Mike Sainristil, Michael Davis and 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes.
Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury have Washington's offense humming. They've scored the most points in the NFL. Terry McLaurin already has six touchdown grabs and Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler are a perfect complement to each other in the backfield.
Quinn and Co. clearly viewed Lattimore as the final piece for their playoff push. While everyone considers the Detroit Lions as the class of the NFC, it is hard to argue for a team other than Washington as the conference's second-best team.
It wasn't long ago that Cowboys fans celebrated Quinn's departure after the team's playoff loss against the Packers.
That he is running point on the NFL's premier feel-good story and just pushed his chips to the middle of the table for a potential deep playoff run while his former employer toils in mediocrity and poor business transactions has to feel pretty vindicating.
For Dallas, it has to feel pretty embarrassing.