Commanders to Release CB Marshon Lattimore

Ending failed two-year experiment to improve Washington's secondary

Mar. 2, 2026 at 1:15pm

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The Washington Commanders have informed veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore that they plan to release him before the start of the new league year, ending a costly and unsuccessful two-year experiment to try to upgrade their secondary. The move will save the team $18.5 million in salary cap space, as Lattimore struggled to acclimate to the Commanders' defense after being acquired in a 2024 trade from the New Orleans Saints.

Why it matters

The Commanders' secondary has been a weak spot for the team, and they were hoping Lattimore could provide an immediate boost when they traded for him in 2024. However, Lattimore's performance declined after leaving the Saints, and his release is part of a broader defensive rebuild the team is undertaking under new coordinator Daronte Jones.

The details

The Commanders gave up 2025 third-, fourth-, and sixth-round picks to acquire Lattimore and a 2025 fifth-round pick from the Saints in November 2024. At the time, Washington was 7-2 and poised for a playoff run, but their secondary was a major weakness. Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowler, struggled to adapt to the Commanders' defense, committing more penalties (6) than starts (5) in 2024. His 2025 season was also marred by struggles and an ACL injury, leading to his impending release.

  • In November 2024, the Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore.
  • In Week 15 of the 2024 season, Lattimore had a promising first start with Washington against his former team, the Saints.
  • In Week 16 of the 2024 season, Lattimore was penalized 3 times against the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • In January 2026, Lattimore was arrested in Lakewood, Ohio, and faced a charge of failing to disclose a concealed weapon.

The players

Marshon Lattimore

A veteran cornerback who was acquired by the Washington Commanders in a 2024 trade with the New Orleans Saints, but struggled to adapt to the Commanders' defense and is now being released.

Adam Peters

The general manager of the Washington Commanders, who remained optimistic that Lattimore would improve in 2025 despite his struggles in 2024.

Dan Quinn

The head coach of the Washington Commanders, who acknowledged the team's defensive struggles and desire to play more aggressively under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.

Daronte Jones

The new defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, who will be implementing his own defensive system and playcalling after two subpar years under the previous coordinator.

Marcus Sidoti

The attorney for Marshon Lattimore, who described Lattimore's recent arrest as a "misunderstanding" and said Lattimore cooperated with law enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“Anytime you come into a new team and you're injured, it's really hard to integrate. And plus, you're coming in at the end of the season, so at the same time you're rehabbing, you're learning a new defense, you're trying to meet new teammates, and so it was a tough situation for him to come in.”

— Adam Peters, General Manager, Washington Commanders

“Looking back, the things that I'm not pleased with is our turnover margin and not creating enough takeaways, not doing a good enough job with the ball. Those are the things that come to mind first. We want to play bold. We want to play aggressively.”

— Dan Quinn, Head Coach, Washington Commanders

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Commanders will look to address their secondary through the draft and free agency as they continue their defensive rebuild under new coordinator Daronte Jones.

The takeaway

The Lattimore trade was a failed experiment for the Commanders, who were unable to get the Pro Bowl-caliber performance they expected from the veteran cornerback. His release is part of a broader effort to overhaul Washington's defense, which has struggled with turnovers and explosive plays in recent seasons.