Sometimes in life, you have to hold your hands up and say you were wrong. I feel like that time has arrived when it comes to Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
With the Commanders further ahead in Year 1 of their rebuild than even the brightest optimist envisaged, general manager Adam Peters made a bold move to acquire Lattimore via trade from the New Orleans Saints before the 2024 deadline. The compensation was steep, but the front-office leader thought this would provide Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense with the shutdown presence it needed in the secondary.
Things haven't gone according to plan. And in all honesty, that is understating things massively.
Commanders' trade for Marshon Lattimore has been a complete disaster
Lattimore wasn't healthy upon joining the Commanders. He missed all but two games in the regular season and was a shell of his old self when on the field. Peters gave him the benefit of the doubt, hoping that a full offseason to heal and pick up the defensive scheme would have the desired effect.
The former Ohio State standout looked explosive and athletic throughout the summer. That renewed hope among the fan base, but it didn't take long for the cracks to show during the regular season. Lattimore is being burned almost constantly downfield, and he doesn't have the burst or anticipation to keep up these days.
Instead of being a lockdown corner, Lattimore is perceived as a weak link that opposing offenses target. It's been a recipe for success, too, which reared its ugly head once again during the player's latest disastrous outing against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7.
Whether it was giving up big completions in key moments or infuriating defensive pass interference penalties, Lattimore just wasn't up to the required standard. His comical collision with safety Quan Martin left fans shaking their head in disbelief. It was a microcosm of everything wrong with the Commanders' defense right now, and something must be done.
I believed Lattimore would be a difference-maker in Washington. His accomplished previous production and never-back-down mentality looked tailor-made for head coach Dan Quinn's culture shift. However, there is enough of a sample size now to suggest that it is not going to be the case.
Peters has a big decision to make. He could ride it out with Lattimore the rest of the way before coming to a conclusion over his future beyond 2025. He could also cut his losses and attempt to get something back in return for the four-time Pro Bowler before the trade deadline. It wouldn't be much, and one also has to wonder if there would be any interest based on his current performance levels.
I was wrong about Lattimore. So was Peters, and the Commanders are paying a heavy price.