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Marshon Lattimore was in the final year of a 5-year, $97.6 million extension signed with the Saints in 2021.
The Marshon Lattimore experiment appears to be over for the Washington Commanders. ESPN reported that the Commanders are expected to release the former first-round pick. This move will save the team $18.5 million in terms of cap space. The team acquired the cornerback via a trade with the New Orleans Saints back in 2024 in exchange for a third, fourth, and sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. The move was initially made with the hope of adding a steady force on the backend of their defense for an expected playoff run. However, despite their intentions of bringing in Lattimore, who was a four-time Pro Bowler and the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year, his time in Washington was anything but steady.
Lattimore recorded career low grades in back-to-back seasons with the Commanders, according to Pro Football Focus. His coverage grade ranked 95th out of 109 corners in 2025, according to PFF. He played in only nine games in 2025 and recorded just one interception while allowing a Passer Rating of 87.7 to opposing quarterbacks, which ranked 70th league wide. Then, on top of Lattimore’s poor performance on the field, he was recently arrested for problems off the field. Lattimore was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle on January 8, 2026.
All this to say, a fresh start was needed for both sides. The Commanders had the third-worst coverage grade as a team in 2025, according to PFF. Corner is expected to be a premium area that general manager Adam Peters and his staff will address via free agency or the draft. Here are the top five players the team could look at as replacement options at corner.
Four Reasonable Options For Washington Commanders in Free Agency
While there is a wealth of free agent cornerback options for the Commanders to choose from, there are only a few options that really make sense. While the Commanders do boast the fifth-most cap space in the league, they should still be selective in adding a player that truly fits their team. They have also been vocal about getting younger on the roster, so a free-agent addition should be looked at as a longer-term investment and not a season rental. Here are a few free-agent options that fit the bill.
Eric Stokes, Las Vegas Raiders: Age – 27 Years Old
GettyLas Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes recorded 53 total tackles and five passes defensed in 2025.
At 27 years old, Eric Stokes would provide the Commanders a lockdown option on the outside. Yahoo Sports provided an in-depth look at the corners’ value, stating, “He has never produced much in the way of interceptions or PDs, because he starves himself of opportunities by shutting down the receivers in his coverage.” Stokes posted an overall grade of 73.6 according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked 18th out of 114 corners. Spotrac lists his market value at $7.4 million, with him projected to sign a $22.1 million contract across three years. The only issue with Stokes is that the Raiders, who have the second-most cap space in the league, will most likely attempt to re-sign him. However, there is always a chance that Stokes would want a fresh start or that the Commanders simply outbid them.
Tariq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks: Age – 27 Years Old
GettySeattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen recorded 41 total tackles, 12 passes defensed, and an interception in 2025.
Coming off a Super Bowl victory, Woolen has garnered buzz as a free agent. Yahoo Sports believes that his physical traits could be enticing to Washington. “Woolen is the type of long, physically imposing CB who should resonate with head coach Dan Quinn. He provides a great combination of ball production and lockdown coverage, which should appeal to any defensive coordinator.” Woolen took a bit of a step back last season in terms of his overall PFF defensive grade, dropping from 67.9 in 2024 to 59.8 in 2025, but that is the outlier of his previous three seasons. Spotrac lists his market value at $8.2 million, which would project to $24.6 million over a three-year contract.
Montaric Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars: Age – 26 Years Old
GettyJacksonville Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown recorded 51 total tackles, 12 passes defended, and two interceptions in 2025.
Yahoo Sports highlights Montaric Brown as an underrated free agent corner option in this class. “Brown has shown steady improvement in coverage at outside CB for the Jaguars throughout his rookie season. By 2025, he had developed into a quality starter in terms of coverage and ball production. He may be flying under the radar with fans, but NFL front offices will know who he is.” PFF graded Brown as the 21st-best corner in 2025, highlighting his 75.5 coverage grade as the 13th-best. Spotrac projects him to sign a three-year contract worth up to $27.7 million.
Jaylen Watson, Kansas City Chiefs: Age – 27 Years Old
GettyKansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson recorded 64 total tackles, 6 passes defensed, and two interceptions in 2025.
Jaylen Watson’s appeal mainly stems from his versatility and scheme fit. Yahoo Sports writes, “In addition to being a quality option in coverage, Watson also excels in run support, and was used effectively as a blitzer by the Chiefs, with 4 career sacks on his resume. Watson could become a useful chess piece to help disguise pressure in a zone blitz scheme like the one that Daronte Jones gained experience with in Minnesota.” PFF ranked Watson as the 16th-best corner last season. Spotrac has his market value placed at $12.5 million annually. This would make him the most expensive of the bunch, but his value in both the pass and run game is worth the price.
Commanders Could Address Corner in Round One of the Draft
Mansoor Delane, LSU Tigers: Age – 22 Years Old
GettyLSU Tigers cornerback Mansoor Delane recorded 45 total tackles, 11 passes defensed, and two interceptions in 2025.
While cornerback isn’t perhaps the Commanders’ most pressing need, it is feasible that the team could choose to select Daniel Jeremiah’s top-ranked corner, Mansoor Delane, with the seventh overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Delane has been projected to the Commanders in various mock drafts as he’s viewed as a “sticky-corner” who would mesh well with Daronte Jones’ defensive scheme. Adam Peters will have to determine which needs take priority, but Delane is certainly a viable option.
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