It seems almost a foregone conclusion that the Washington Commanders will release veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore at some stage during the offseason. However, a team reporter hinted that the savings attached may not be as large as fans are expecting.
When the Commanders struck a bombshell trade deal for Lattimore, it signaled the team's intent. It didn't take long to realize this was going to be a disaster of epic proportions, and all signs point to a parting of the ways when the time is right.
Lattimore suffered several injuries, including a torn ACL, during the 2025 campaign. His production was lackluster even when healthy, which isn't what the Commanders had in mind when they gave up decent capital to acquire the four-time Pro Bowler from the New Orleans Saints.
Commanders potentially need to pay off Marshon Lattimore with an injury settlement
The one solace came from general manager Adam Peters not giving him an extension. That makes Lattimore's contract easy to get off this spring.
Projections indicate that cutting Lattimore would save the team $18.5 million on Washington's salary cap, with no dead money attached. However, David Harrison of WUSA9 didn't think it would be that much when push came to shove.
The writer outlined a possible need for the Commanders to negotiate an injury settlement with Lattimore before March 15. And his outlined projection suggested the eventual savings for Washington could be in the region of $15.5 million.
That could equate to a $3 million payoff for Lattimore in this scenario, which would be all the more infuriating.
Lattimore played 14 games, including Washington's memorable playoff run. Aside from one or two games where he displayed exceptional coverage techniques, he was wildly inconsistent. In fact, opposing offenses often targeted him as a weak link with great success.
Getting a potential $3 million payoff for his trouble just because he was injured is one final blow to this disastrous trade. Perhaps the Commanders could release him on conduct grounds after his recent arrest on gun charges, but there is just no telling for sure. Either way, it's a messy end to a transaction that offered so much promise at the time.
It was a swing and a miss for Peters. His trades for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. went much better, and getting so much for Jahan Dotson was another shrewd move. But in terms of his swift action to bring Lattimore into the fold, it was the opposite.
And the Commanders may still have money to pay regarding this trade gone wrong.