Marshon Lattimore’s career continues to hurtle downhill.
On Monday, the Washington Commanders informed the once-star corner that they’re going to release him before the new league year begins on March 11, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
The move saves the Commanders $18.5 million in cap space, adding to the $67 million that they have available, the fifth-most in the league currently. With even more room to maneuver from Monday’s decision, Washington should be aggressive in free agency, especially in the secondary.
Lattimore, 29, hasn’t produced at the same level he showed at the beginning of his career across the last four years. Starting with the New Orleans Saints, the 2017 first-round pick began with Pro Bowl selections in four of his first five NFL seasons as well as an AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
In those years, he snagged 13 picks, including five as a rookie.
But since then, injuries have derailed his success. He hasn’t played a full season since 2021, missing time because of a lacerated kidney and broken ribs in 2022, an ankle injury in 2023, hamstring issues in 2024 and a torn ACL in 2025.
The latter two setbacks came after a trade to Washington at the 2024 deadline. He missed most of the end of the 2024 regular season but played in the Commanders’ three playoff games.
Without Lattimore, Washington’s ranks are thin at cornerback. It retains 2024 second-round pick Mike Sainristil, who has six interceptions over his first two years in the NFL, and Trey Amos, a rookie in 2025 who played just 10 games before breaking his leg.
The Commanders are looking to bounce back in 2026 after they went 5-12 last season. They made the NFC Championship Game the year prior, a resurgent season led by first-year head coach Dan Quinn and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.
Last year, Daniels went down with a gruesome arm injury in November, and everything unraveled from there. Washington lost eight games in a row from October to December.
It’ll look to improve in free agency — with some extra cash from releasing Lattimore.