Noah Brown - Commanders WR
Veteran wide receiver Noah Brown was the Hail Mary miracle man who brought in quarterback Jayden Daniels' prayer to beat the Chicago Bears in 2024. The Washington Commanders deservedly gave him another one-year extension during the offseason, but a constant stream of disappointing injury problems made him an innocent bystander for the most part.
Brown got hurt at Washington's mandatory minicamp and was brought along gradually all summer. This didn't prevent him from going down in Week 2, and the Commanders eventually placed him on injured reserve when they weren't satisfied with his progress.
The former Ohio State star eventually made it back. It wasn't for long, with Brown hobbling off the field early in his second contest. Washington placed him on injured reserve again, and the Commanders would be wise not to give him another financial commitment when the time comes in the spring.
Zach Ertz - Commanders TE
When the Commanders signed veteran tight end Zach Ertz in 2024 free agency, nobody really knew what to expect. His previous accomplishments needed no introduction. However, a turbulent 2023 campaign made this a risky move for general manager Adam Peters.
As it turned out, Washington provided Ertz with the precise environment needed to galvanize his career. He was nothing short of sensational in 2024, giving rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels a dependable outlet in the passing game. The former Stanford standout also emerged as a respected locker-room leader, earning numerous performance incentives along the way.
Ertz got a little older and slower in Year 2 with the club. He was still highly effective when targets came his way, and his savvy football acumen enabled him to find the soft spots in defenses. Unfortunately, a late-season ACL tear could lead to his retirement.
Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB
The Commanders were expecting big things from veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore after acquiring him via trade from the New Orleans Saints before the 2024 deadline. Unfortunately, the gamble that had been formally announced as Washington's return to contention didn't yield the desired results.
Lattimore's hamstring injury upon joining the Commanders limited his contributions in 2024. Those in power were confident he could return to Pro Bowl-caliber performance with a full offseason to get healthy, but his subpar coverage and regressing technique were glaring. Going down with a devastating torn ACL was probably the final gut punch from his time in D.C.
Releasing the defensive back out of Ohio State this offseason comes with $18.5 million in savings and no dead cap ramifications. Considering how long Lattimore could be on the shelf and his lack of consistency, this should be a simple decision for general manager Adam Peters to make.