Marshon Lattimore's high-profile trade to the Washington Commanders represented a major statement of intent. Those in power knew this project was ahead of schedule and they struck with conviction for the shutdown cornerback before the deadline. This got the league's attention and showed general manager Adam Peters meant business.
Things didn't go well for Lattimore. He couldn't shake off a troublesome hamstring injury, playing just two games during the regular season. The former first-round pick out of Ohio State got back for the postseason, but the issue was still giving him trouble.
Lattimore found life difficult against long-time adversary Mike Evans in the Wild Card round. He looked more accomplished during Washington's exceptional triumph at the Detroit Lions. This provided hope he could make a significant difference in the Commanders' pursuit of the Super Bowl.
Sadly, this didn't come to fruition. Lattimore was inconsistent and lacked discipline. A torrid stretch in the second quarter saw him give up a crucial fourth down to A.J. Brown and get called for defensive pass interference in the end zone on DeVonta Smith. To make matters worse, he lost his cool thanks to an unnecessary roughness infringement as tempers flared.
Marshon Lattimore hasn't lived up to Commanders' expectations
Considering his experience in big games, this was unacceptable. Lattimore always plays on the edge with a fierce competitive streak, but cooler heads needed to prevail. The Commanders were heavily beaten, leaving the defensive back and others pondering what went wrong before the offseason.
Dan Orlovsky from ESPN captured Lattimore's rocky start to life in Washington perfectly. The quarterback-turned-analyst said the quiet part out loud, acknowledging that this transaction hadn't gone as the Commanders hoped.
Lattimore was signed with the long-term in mind. His production wasn't stellar, but there are mitigating circumstances attached. Perhaps things will improve once his hamstring fully recovers and the player gets a full offseason within Dan Quinn's scheme. There's just no telling for sure.
Some are speculating whether Lattimore will be a salary-cap casualty for the Commanders this offseason. That would be a bombshell of epic proportions considering what Peters gave up to acquire him. However, a rousing effort is needed to bounce back next time around.
The Commanders thought enough of Lattimore to sacrifice draft assets and bring him into the fold. Having such a stuttering start wasn't ideal, but giving up on this acquisition so early doesn't seem smart. Washington would save $18 million by cutting the Ohio State product. Even so, it leaves a gaping hole in their cornerback unit amid more offseason changes.
Lattimore knows what people are saying. He's aware of the criticism coming his way after a less-than-stellar campaign when involved. He's also got the mentality to use this as a source of motivation en route to silencing his doubters.
The former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year proved he can still shut down one side of the field on two occasions this season. Lattimore faltered at the worst possible time. And if he was out on the field, he was expected to produce versus high-caliber opposition.
That wasn't the case. Lattimore wasn't alone in failing to meet expectations. At the same time, he's held to a higher standard.
Righting this wrong when competitive action begins again becomes the next challenge. One Lattimore must take on with his customary determination.
