The Washington Commanders are dealing with several critical problems holding them back from meeting raised expectations. Whether it's the injury propblems, the lack of execution, getting complacent, poor discipline, or a combination of everything is debatable. But this is not what head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters had in mind entering their second season.
There is plenty of blame to go around. And there is one player who is taking more heat than most.
That, of course, is Marshon Lattimore.
Commanders have a tough decision to make with struggling CB Marshon Lattimore
The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback isn't alone in struggling to find the consistency needed. However, the Commanders made a hefty wager in Lattimore becoming a shutdown-caliber presence on the boundary. That has blown up in their face, and now Peters is left with a thankless decision.
Lattimore's gone from one of the league's most accomplished lockdown corners to a complete liability. Teams are actively targeting him as a weak link. It's working. He's struggling to keep up with receivers. He's also a walking defensive pass interference waiting to happen, and it's not going unnoticed by opposing offenses as part of their game planning for the Commanders.
That's a bad combination. Lattimore's most glaring flaws were evident throughout Washington's capitulation against the Dallas Cowboys. He might be a scapegoat compared to the bigger, collective problem. Even so, this simply cannot continue for much longer.
Peters took a swing. He sensed the Commanders were in position to contend, and he felt like Lattimore would get them closer. It was evidently a swing and a miss, so removing sentiment and admiting defeat must be considered.
The Commanders could potentially trade Lattimore, but whether any suitable interest would arrive is anyone's guess. Arguably the most likely scenario would be letting things play out for the rest of 2025. If things don't improve, then Washington can cut him loose with $18.5 million in savings and no dead-cap money attached next spring.
Keeping Lattimore in the lineup might be a necessary evil right now. Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil are playing well, but the options aside from that are slim. This was supposed to be the team's biggest strength, and it's been exposed as a weakness without any legitimate help from the safety unit.
A massive effort is needed from Lattimore to turn the tide. Quinn said personnel changes are coming, so it'll be an anxious wait to see if the Ohio State product falls victim to the inevitable (and desirable) alterations that are on the way before Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.
Time will tell, but this trade is a bust until further notice.