Marshon Lattimore's taken some heat in the days after the team's disappointing NFC Championship loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran cornerback lost his cool and gave up big plays in key moments. This drew the ire of fans and left many wondering what the future might hold.
The Washington Commanders made a bold trade to acquire Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints before the deadline with the future in mind. Those in power thought he could help immediately, but they had half an eye on the long-term when making this transaction. This was thanks in no small part to the hamstring injury suffered by the four-time Pro Bowler before his arrival.
Lattimore never got over this issue. It restricted him to just two games during the regular season. Aside from a few notable flashes, it also limited his explosiveness capabilities in the postseason.
The former first-round pick out of Ohio State wasn't found wanting for effort, but the production that saw him become one of the league's premier shutdown corners deserted him. This led some analysts to wonder if the Commanders would cut their losses ahead of time.
Adam Peters leaves no doubt regarding Marshon Lattimore's future with Commanders
Adam Peters quashed this rumor during his media availability this week. The general manager made an assertive statement about Lattimore's future and highlighted the difficulties he overcame upon joining the Commanders. He believes that with a full offseason to learn the scheme and regain health, fans will see a completely different player in 2025.
"Marshon [Lattimore] came into a tough situation. He was injured when he got here. Any time you come into a new team and you're injured, it's really hard to integrate. Plus you're coming in at the end of the season. At the same time you're rehabbing, you're learning a new defense, you're trying to meet new teammates. It was a tough situation for him to come in, but what was cool is that we saw him get better and we saw him get more acclimated, not only to the defense but to his teammates. Really excited for him to have an offseason with us. To really learn the defense from the ground up, and really have that full runway of training camp leaning into the season. Really looking forward to that."Adam Peters
Peters has earned the trust of Washington's fanbase. He saw enough in Lattimore to make his most aggressive move to date. It didn't go well initially, but ignoring the mitigating circumstances attached is foolish.
Lattimore should be 100 percent healthy when the Commanders begin offseason activities once again. He'll have more time to familiarize himself with Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s schematic concepts. He'll have a sense of familiarity with some teammates, although big changes to the playing personnel are anticipated once again under Peters' expert guidance.
Using the newfound criticism coming his way should provide all the motivation needed for a better go-around next season. Lattimore is a highly competitive individual — sometimes going a little too far. He'll want to silence his doubters and prove he remains an elite coverage presence capable of locking down one side of the field.
The former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year has talent, there's no getting away from that. If everything goes smoothly in the coming months, expect Lattimore to shine when competitive action begins once again.