Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters traded with the New Orleans Saints in the middle of the 2024 season to bring cornerback Marshon Lattimore to town to help improve the secondary. Unfortunately, Lattimore only appeared in two games for the Commanders in 2024 due to injury. Prior to joining the Commanders, he appeared in seven games for the Saints.
Lattimore dominated the Saints’ secondary during his rookie campaign, recording five interceptions and a touchdown. The next four years were decent, he didn’t suffer a major drop-off until 2022. Since then, though, he’s been riddled with injury and had his attitude called into question. Given his absence from the Commanders this spring, it’s no wonder that NFL.com says this is a make-or-break season for the veteran corner.
This is about earning the final year of his contract. Lattimore moved to Washington as a coveted trade acquisition but struggled to find the same form with the Commanders, posting some truly dreadful Pro Football Focus grades in the postseason. There’s reason to believe a full year with Dan Quinn will fix things, and Lattimore is under pressure to do so this fall because the Commanders can cut ties with zero financial penalty in 2026. However, Lattimore has not joined the team for the offseason program, per defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. At 29 years old, Lattimore could still earn decent money on a new deal, but the main goal is to prove himself as a trusted corner for a team that aims to build on its surprise run to the NFC Championship Game last season. If he does that, he’ll be much easier to keep or at least consider for a contract restructure that’s friendlier to the team’s salary cap.
The Commanders have depth at corner this season, and if Lattimore doesn’t get it together, you can believe rookie Trey Amos is itching to take the starting job. And if not him, others are waiting in the wings, such as veteran Jonathan Jones and the returning Noah Igbinoghene. Rookie sensation Mike Sainristil proved he could play on the outside, too.
What the Commanders would love, though, is for Lattimore to come out swinging this fall. Show up and be the veteran leader that any team would need him to be at this point in his career. The way he presents himself in 2025 will dictate the direction of his career when the season is over. If he does what needs to be done, he’ll be rewarded, whether it’s by the Commanders or another team. If he fails to produce in 2025, he will be cut and hard-pressed to find a new team.