Marshon Lattimore's trade to the Washington Commanders hasn't gone according to plan so far. It wasn't an easy situation with plenty of mitigating circumstances attached, but general manager Adam Peters didn't acquire the prolific cornerback with the short-term in mind.
Lattimore came into the Commanders with a hamstring issue he was never able to shake off. He returned for two games during the regular season before the complication reared its head again. The four-time Pro Bowler came back for the postseason, but his typical shutdown production just wasn't there consistently enough.
Speculation rose about what the future could hold for Lattimore, with some analysts even touting him as a potential salary-cap casualty. Peters quashed these rumors immediately, reaffirming his belief in the veteran defensive back despite a rocky start to his time in Washington.
Commanders' insider reveals hidden reason behind Marshon Lattimore trade
John Keim from ESPN highlighted some hidden reasoning behind Peters' most aggressive move to date. The respected beat writer revealed that the Commanders had this year's free-agent cornerback class in mind. With options perceived to be thin on the ground, they opted to trade for Lattimore before the 2024 deadline.
"The Marshon Lattimore trade was done because they knew what this free agent class was going to look like. At the time of the trade, they already knew the guys who were going to be free agents. They went out and made this move designed to not just help them this year, but also to help them in the future because when they saw the free agent class, I think that's why they made this move. When you start to see guys like D.J. Reed. They knew D.J. Reed was going to be a free agent. They went out and traded for Marshon Lattimore. And Lattimore fits the description of the guys they want."John Keim
Peters is always thinking ahead. He's a strategic roster builder who always keeps the bigger picture in mind. Giving up assets for Lattimore and taking on his salary was preferred to any of the free agents in this group, although one couldn't dismiss the possibility of Washington targeting a free agent or two if Noah Igbinoghene and Benjamin St-Juste don't get extended.
While it's been a disappointing move so far, writing off Lattimore entirely would be foolish. The former first-round pick out of Ohio State is among the league's best when fit and firing on all cylinders. Having an offseason to get healthy, reach peak conditioning, and familiarize himself with the defensive schematics is only going to serve him well moving forward.
It's not like Lattimore didn't flash exceptional production. His games against the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions were proof of how important he could be to Washington's defense. This is all about getting healthy and using his doubters as a source of motivation.
Lattimore is far from a lost cause. He's also got the sort of mentality to fight back in the face of adversity. That's another reason why the Commanders brought him into the fold.
Peters knows what he's doing. His drastic moves in year one provided the spark that propelled the Commanders to one of their most memorable campaigns in decades. Trading for Lattimore is a slight blemish on his record, but there's still time for that to change.
The Commanders will look at free agents. But thanks to their trade for Lattimore, the need is less urgent at the top end.
