In an offseason move that signals a major roster shake-up, the Washington Commanders have informed Marshon Lattimore that he will be released ahead of the 2026 league year. The veteran cornerback ended his uneventful tenure with the Commanders after just two seasons.
The decision to release the four-time Pro Bowler, which was long anticipated by league insiders, provides Washington with a substantial boost in salary cap flexibility. The Commanders clear up $18.5 million in salary cap space ahead of free agency with the release of Lattimore.
Marshon Lattimore was acquired by the Commanders in a midseason trade with the New Orleans Saints during the 2024 campaign. However, he never quite found his footing with the team, appearing in just nine games in two years, as he dealt with injuries that sidelined him.
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Lattimore suffered a season-ending torn ACL in November. The previous year, he also missed significant time due to a hamstring injury. His release comes almost two months after his arrest in Lakewood, Ohio, on a possible charge of carrying concealed weapons, according to ESPN.
The release of Marshon Lattimore has generated a lot of reactions among NFL fans. Many believe Washington has made the right decision in letting him go, after failing to live up to the lofty expectations. Others wonder how things went south for the highly-regarded cornerback.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions online:
@UnderdogNFL @mzenitz The fall off is truly insane
@UnderdogNFL @mzenitz GET HIM GONE
@MySportsUpdate Lattimore to the Browns or Eagles on a prove. It deal incoming. Still has talent when healthy
@MySportsUpdate Commanders paying $18.5M just to confirm he’s washed. Brutal business😂
@MySportsUpdate Man… watching Marshon Lattimore go from lockdown legend in NOLA to this quiet exit in DC hurts. Injuries stole what should’ve been prime years. Still a dawg at heart. Thank you for the battles, Mars. Go get healthy and remind the league who you are. 🖤💔
@MySportsUpdate Yeah, this was the right call by the Commanders. Lattimore barely played and the injury issues just piled up, cutting him loose frees up that $18.5M in cap space to go after some real help in the secondary this offseason. Smart business move. 👊
Washington‘s cap space after Marshon Lattimore’s release
The Washington Commanders entered the offseason having quite a lot to spend in free agency. However, the release of Marshon Lattimore has made it even bigger. Grant Paulsen provided the details of the team’s cap space after the news of the cornerback’s cut broke out.
“$18.5 million in cap space will be freed up,” Paulsen said on the “Grant and Danny” show. “That takes them from just over $70 million in cap space right now to closer to $90 million in cap space.
“Based on my math, they would go from being the team with the fifth most money to spend in free agency to behind only the Tennessee Titans, having the second most cap space in the entire league when they free up what is the easiest $18.5 million decision in the history of the team.”
The Commanders will be able to get a replacement for Marshon Lattimore and address other roster issues with that huge cap space. The team is coming off a disappointing 5-12 season, and they are looking to make some significant roster moves this offseason.