There are some tricky challenges upcoming for general manager Adam Peters this offseason. However, this should begin by admitting defeat on the first blockbuster splash at the helm.
The Washington Commanders thought they'd landed the big fish needed to become a serious Super Bowl challenger when they traded for cornerback Marshon Lattimore. His previous credentials needed no introduction, and even though the New Orleans Saints decided to cash in, hopes were high that he could make a go of things in a different environment.
That didn't happen. Injuries and performance regression became Lattimore's undoing. Now, not even two full seasons after the transaction, the four-time Pro Bowler is facing the prospect of an early departure.
Former sports agent highlights the easiest cut Commanders will make this offseason
Joel Corry, a former sports agent who now works for CBS Sports, highlighted Lattimore as an obvious cut candidate this season. And his musings were precisely what Commanders fans have been saying for months.
"[Marshon] Lattimore was given the benefit of the doubt for his subpar play in 2024 because of a hamstring injury that limited him to five games, including the playoffs, after the Commanders acquired him. He never regained the form that led to four Pro Bowl berths with the Saints before tearing the ACL in his left knee nine games into the season."Joel Corry
This was always likely, even before Lattimore's ACL tear and his offseason arrest. Now, the scenario looks set in stone, and the defensive back has nobody to blame but himself.
Everyone falls off the proverbial performance cliff at some stage. Lattimore's descent was fast, and opposing offenses exploited this with alarming frequency throughout his time in Washington.
Releasing Lattimore saves the Commanders $18.5 million on their 2026 salary cap. That would take their available financial resources to an estimated $81.91 million, which is the ammunition Peters needs to solve some major roster problems before a critical third season for this ambitious project.
Given how late Lattimore tore his ACL and the typical recovery timeline, it may be a while before another NFL team comes calling. Peters was right to take a swing at the time. The Commanders were further ahead than even the brightest optimist envisaged, but the front-office leader struck out in this case.
That's the way it works sometimes. Fortunately for Peters and the Commanders, they didn't move on Lattimore's contract after the trade. That means there are no dead cap ramifications whatsoever when his eventual departure is rubber-stamped.
Nothing has been confirmed. But reading between the lines, this looks like a foregone conclusion.