Commander Country

Commanders $97 million star fighting for life in NFL

The Washington Commanders have a talented player, but he hasn't been at his peak lately.
Jeremy Brener|
Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore defends a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore defends a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore is entering his first full season with the team.

Lattimore was traded in November by the New Orleans Saints to the Commanders in an attempt to boost Washington's secondary.

Now, with only one more season of fully guaranteed money, Lattimore is fighting for his future in the league, according to NFL.com writer Nick Shook.

READ MORE: Commanders OC makes bold statement about Jayden Daniels’ year 2

Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore during warmups before the game against the New Orleans Saints
Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore during warmups before the game against the New Orleans Saints. | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Lattimore on hot seat for Commanders

"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," Shook wrote.

"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."

Lattimore has not been at the team's OTAs, but he is expected to show up for a mandatory minicamp, which begins on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Commanders linked to 4-time Pro Bowl RB in new report

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 offseason.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several On SI sites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid and resides in Central Florida. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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