The Washington Commanders have parted ways with veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore, a move that comes months after his arrest on weapons charges in his home state of Ohio. This decision clears a significant $18.5 million in salary cap space for the NFC East franchise as they reshape their roster ahead of the new season.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Lattimore was arrested on January 7 in Lakewood, Ohio, and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. The incident began when police pulled him over for a minor traffic violation and discovered his license plates were expired.
Bodycam footage obtained by TMZ shows the 29-year-old athlete telling officers he had no weapons in his vehicle when asked during the traffic stop. However, when police inventoried his car prior to towing it due to the expired plates, they discovered a loaded handgun in the glovebox.
An officer was heard saying, 'We can go ahead and book him,' before placing Lattimore in the back of a patrol car. The cornerback informed police he couldn't bend his knee properly due to recovery from ACL surgery sustained during the NFL season.
Legal History and Team Impact
This marks the second time Lattimore has faced legal issues involving firearms. In 2021, he was arrested in Cleveland for possession of a handgun believed to be stolen, ultimately pleading guilty to a lesser charge of failing to inform officers about a concealed weapon and receiving probation.
The Commanders' decision to release Lattimore follows a season where the four-time Pro Bowl selection played only 11 games before suffering a torn ACL in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks. His injury occurred in November, effectively ending his 2025 campaign prematurely.
Lattimore has pled not guilty to the current charges, and his case remains open and active. His attorneys initially stated he was 'fully cooperating with law enforcement' and noted he had only been cited for failing to promptly inform police about the lawfully possessed firearm.
Career Trajectory
A Cleveland native who played college football at Ohio State, Lattimore was selected 11th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 NFL Draft. He earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and made four Pro Bowl appearances during his nearly eight seasons with the Saints before being traded to Washington mid-season last year.
The Commanders now move forward without the veteran cornerback, utilizing the substantial cap savings to address other roster needs while Lattimore faces an uncertain future both legally and professionally as he recovers from knee surgery and navigates his legal challenges.
