Adam Peters made his intentions regarding Marshon Lattimore abundantly clear once the Washington Commanders' fairytale playoff run ended. That didn't stop some around the media from speculating whether he'd still be on the squad in 2025.
Lattimore was a high-profile arrival to the Commanders via trade before the 2024 deadline. Peters made his most aggressive move to date with Washington in touching distance of the postseason much sooner than expected. Unfortunately for the shutdown cornerback, a frustrating injury meant he never reached the heights anticipated.
The four-time Pro Bowler came into the franchise with a hamstring issue. Lattimore came back for two regular-season games before the complication flared up again. He toughed it out in the playoffs, but the production wasn't to his typically exceptional standard.
Adam Peters reaffirms Marshon Lattimore's status with Commanders in 2025
Peters reaffirmed his faith in Lattimore during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine. This question came up after speculation in the media about a potential cut despite the general manager's earlier comments. His latest declaration quashes these rumors once and for all.
"We're really high on Marshon [Lattimore]. I spoke about it at the end of the year. He came into a tough situation and he competed his ass off. He's the type of guy we want on the field and we're excited to have him in this offseason to build with him."Adam Peters via NBC Washington
Adam Peters makes clear Marshon Lattimore is in plans for Washington and compliments the CB as a competitor pic.twitter.com/jSJCj309ef
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 25, 2025
Nobody likes repeating themselves. The message was loud and clear from Peters the first time around where Lattimore was concerned. Another emphatic stance in Indianapolis draws a line under the rumors and hearsay regarding his short-term future.
The Commanders didn't draft Lattimore for a rental they wanted to get off quickly. They did this with the long-term in mind. Anything they got out of the injured defensive back this season was a bonus.
Washington has bigger problems than Lattimore at the cornerback position. The Ohio State product and Mike Sainristil are cemented into the team's plans. Nobody else could say that with any confidence, so big changes to the secondary could arrive during what promises to be a frantic few months for Peters when the recruitment period commences.
Cutting Lattimore after a few games in tricky circumstances was a laughable notion. Suggesting it after Peters' initial stance was even worse.
What comes after this season is down to Lattimore. He's got two more years remaining on his deal and will count $18.5 million against Washington's salary cap in 2026. If the former first-round pick returns to the form of old, one couldn't dismiss the prospect of an extension coming his way to avoid further complications down the line.
There is a flip side to this coin. If Lattimore's regression with mitigating factors attached continues into the next campaign, the Commanders could take drastic action by trading or even releasing the player.
Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.
Lattimore is a highly competitive individual with elite-level coverage traits. He must use this initial disappointment as a source of motivation to remind the world why the Commanders made this daring trade in the first place.
After that, any speculation regarding his future will be a distant memory.
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