Marshon Lattimore
Getty
Marshon Lattimore is expected to continue playing in the NFL, despite getting released by the Commanders
After enduring a disappointing 2025 campaign, it’s clear that the Washington Commanders are going to be aggressive this offseason. That was clear as day when watching head coach Dan Quinn revamp his coaching staff, and it has already started when it comes to the roster, as veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore was released by the team on Monday afternoon.
The Commanders picked up Lattimore in a trade with the New Orleans Saints in 2024, but he never found his way with his new team. After he tore his ACL midway through the 2025 campaign, Lattimore reached an injury settlement with Washington, and while things didn’t pan out for him with this team, it sounds like he’s going to have his fair share of suitors in free agency.
Marshon Lattimore Expected to Generate Interest in Free Agency
JosinaAnderson
More on the #Commanders decision to release Marshon Lattimore, including no immediate plans for the 29 year old CB to retire. Lattimore’s birthday is May 20th.
Lattimore enjoyed a strong start to his career after getting selected with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, as he earned four Pro Bowl selections in his first five seasons, in addition to winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2017. Over the past couple of years, though, things have been trending in the wrong direction for Lattimore.
A slew of injury issues have led to Lattimore playing in more than 10 games in a single season over the past four years. Along the way, he got traded to the Commanders, who were hoping he could reemerge as a true lockdown cornerback. Instead, Lattimore will only end up playing in 11 total games for Washington.
With the Commanders needing cap space, they quickly looked at Lattimore, who simply did not pan out for them after getting picked up in a trade with the Saints. While some folks wondered what the future could look like for Lattimore, he is reportedly intent on still playing football, and there figures to be a good deal of interest in him once he hits the open market.
“League source expresses confidence Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore will land with another team after Washington informs of intent to release,” NFL insider Josina Anderson reported in a post on X. “I’m told Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore is ‘going to keep playing,’ while a league source added ‘there are so many teams who need corners.'”
Commanders Cut Their Losses on Marshon Lattimore Trade
Marshon Lattimore
GettyThe Commanders are going to have to reach an injury settlement with cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Washington sacrificed quite a bit of draft capital in order to land Lattimore, as it gave up third, fourth, and sixth-round picks in the 2025 draft in order to bring him to town. With Lattimore missing a significant amount of time and the Commanders being unable to properly reinforce their roster with young talent, it’s not much of a surprise that the team struggled last year.
Moving on from Lattimore will save Washington $18.5 million in cap space, so while the team would have rather had him remain a key contributor for them, it’s clear that there is some benefit in cutting him. The cornerback position has quickly become a key area of need for the Commanders, though, and it will be interesting to see who the front office brings in to replace him this offseason.