Marshon Lattimore to Be Released by Washington Commanders, Clearing $18.5 Million Cap Hit
The Washington Commanders will release marshon lattimore, a decision that immediately removes an $18. 5 million cap hit from the team's books and opens roster flexibility ahead of the new league year. The move matters because marshon lattimore's recent injuries and limited availability have affected both his value to Washington and his appeal to teams seeking cornerback depth.
Marshon Lattimore's Washington tenure
Marshon Lattimore arrived in Washington in a midseason trade during the 2024 season but was limited to five appearances after the move because of a hamstring injury. He returned the following season to start nine games in 2025 before tearing his ACL in early November. Over the course of his time with the Commanders he recorded 31 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Washington will clear the full $18. 5 million cap hit tied to Lattimore once the release is official, an immediate financial effect that creates room for personnel moves. The trade that initially sent Lattimore away from New Orleans included three draft picks in 2025 — third, fourth and sixth-round selections — which the Saints used to pick Jonas Sanker, Quincy Riley and Devin Neal. Lattimore had missed significant time with the Saints in 2022 and 2023, though he made four Pro Bowls in his first five seasons with New Orleans.
Chicago Bears and secondary implications for GM Ryan Poles
The release reshuffles options for teams seeking cornerback help. The Chicago Bears, who have targeted retention of Kevin Byard III while facing potential departures such as Nahshon Wright in free agency, could view Lattimore as a veteran depth piece. Senior reporter Matt Zenitz indicated the Commanders intend to release Lattimore, a development that has made him a potential target for GM Ryan Poles' wishlist.
Performance metrics add context to the acquisition calculus. Pro Football Focus graded Lattimore at 52. 1, ranking him 96th among 114 eligible cornerbacks; last season he logged one interception, surrendered 18 catches for an average of 14. 3 yards per catch and yielded a passer rating of 87. 7 when targeted. Those numbers, combined with the recent ACL and prior hamstring issues, create durability and performance concerns that factor into any team’s decision-making.
What makes this notable is Lattimore's familiarity with Dennis Allen's defensive system from their time together in New Orleans, a factor that could shorten a potential acclimation period and increase his short-term usefulness even if he is no longer the shutdown corner he once was. The Bears’ needs — and the possibility that Jaylon Johnson remains banged up or that Tyrique Stevenson proves inconsistent — shape why a veteran addition of this sort remains on the table.
The cause-and-effect is clear: Washington's decision to release Lattimore frees up $18. 5 million in cap space and a roster spot, while the player’s injury record and recent on-field grades reduce his market value. That combination makes him an affordable, if risky, option for teams that prize immediate familiarity with a defensive scheme and are willing to manage medical uncertainty.
Named league observers have already signaled the move as likely, and the timing — at the threshold of the new league year — amplifies its impact. Teams with secondary holes now have a window to weigh a low-cost veteran whose pedigree includes multiple early-career Pro Bowl selections but whose recent seasons have been repeatedly interrupted by injury.
Washington’s official roster move will be procedural but consequential: it simultaneously adjusts the club’s financial flexibility and influences the market for veteran cornerbacks this offseason. For contenders or squads reshaping their back end, the release provides a distinct, measurable option as front offices finalize plans before free agency and the draft.
