Marshon Lattimore chapter closes with truth Commanders fans are avoiding

The least surprising move of the Washington Commanders' offseason has reportedly been made. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is gone, ending a brief and unsuccessful stint with the organization that began just before the 2024 trade deadline.

Lattimore, who was acquired via trade from the New Orleans Saints, appeared in only 11 regular-season games during his Commanders tenure. He struggled to stay on the field and was a disappointment even when healthy, which made releasing him an easy choice given the expected savings.

Thus far, the Lattimore trade — in which the Commanders gave up three draft picks — is probably the biggest mistake of Adam Peters' tenure as Washington's general manager. That doesn't mean it wasn't worth the risk.

Commanders had to go all-in for Marshon Lattimore, and the outcome can't change that

Let's flash back to the moment in time when the Commanders made the deal for Lattimore. They were 7-2 after nine weeks, taking a season that was supposed to be a rebuilding year and turning it on its head. Suddenly, they needed to win now.

Washington's defensive backfield was a weakness, featuring rookie Mike Sainristil and much-maligned veterans Benjamin St-Juste and Noah Igbinoghene as its starters. Lattimore was an obvious target as he rotted away on an awful Saints team.

Even while dealing with a nagging hamstring injury and having not played more than 10 games in a season since 2021, this was a chance Washington had to take. Lattimore was a four-time Pro Bowler who was still only 28. In the best world, being on a competitive team could have reinvigorated him again for at least a couple more seasons of quality play.

Though the trade didn't work out for Lattimore, one can still argue that Washington received a positive return on investment during its run to the NFC Championship game. Throughout the playoffs, the cornerback's presence made life easier for his teammates, especially in the NFC divisional round when the Commanders intercepted four Detroit Lions passes.

More than anything, the Lattimore trade was an official signal that the Commanders were serious about being contenders. It sent a message to the rest of the league that Peters wasn't messing around, and it cemented the optimistic vibes that had taken hold in Washington that season.

A year and a half later, the Commanders and Lattimore are both in a much darker place. But that doesn't mean the trade wasn't worth a shot.