Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB
Marshon Lattimore's trade to the Washington Commanders signaled the official opening of their Super Bowl window. Adam Peters felt like his squad was far enough ahead of schedule to begin making bolder moves. The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback was the first, but he wasn't the last.
It was a rough first few months in Washington for Lattimore. The defensive back was dealing with a hamstring that never healed. He struggled to provide the lockdown capabilities expected, but fans gave him the benefit of the doubt. Peters did too, believing that the veteran could thrive with a full offseason to learn the scheme and, more importantly, get healthy.
Lattimore looked like a million dollars in the summer. He was sharp, explosive, and firmly focused on the task at hand. There have been some impressive flashes this season, but some grave concerns cannot be overlooked, either.
The Ohio State product struggles with speedy receivers downfield. Lattimore has been exposed technically, leading to defensive pass interference penalties. His performances in Week 1 and 5 were exceptional, but they are too few and far between.
Is Lattimore working his way back to becoming a shutdown presence? Or is he on a steady decline? The jury is still out on that one.
Noah Brown - Commanders WR
Noah Brown's time with the Commanders so far has been a rollercoaster. There have been some memorable moments — one of which will go down in franchise history. But there have also been some ongoing frustrations that cannot be overlooked.
These mainly concern health issues. Brown suffered a severe internal injury against the Tennessee Titans last season that required kidney surgery. He got another one-year deal from the Commanders, but his summer was hindered by a knee complication that made him an innocent bystander for the most part.
Brown managed to get back for the start of the regular season, playing in the opening two games. The former Ohio State standout brought in three receptions from seven targets for 36 receiving yards, but groin and knee issues have seen him on the shelf ever since.
The Commanders are hopeful that Brown will feature against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, which invokes memories of his Hail Mary touchdown catch. But fans are still wondering if he is a valuable contributor these days, or if he's too injury-prone now to be counted upon.
The truth is probably somewhere in between. But fortunately for the Commanders, young players like Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane are stepping up when the team needs them most.