One of the more controversial names in the league at the cornerback position, Marshon Lattimore, isn’t what he once used to be. One of the best lockdown defenders in the sport, he made his presence known in the secondary for the New Orleans Saints.
As a result, the Washington Commanders traded for him midway through the 2024 campaign. Putting together a strong year for them, he remained on the squad for 2025. But a torn ACL ended his season early, and now he’s toiling away in free agency.
The Marshon Lattimore Suitors
Drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Lattimore was an immediate starter for the Saints. And became one of the most terrifying prospects on the field. Winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, he also earned the first of four Pro Bowl nods as a rookie.
A threat to the entire NFC South Division, he developed a lethal rivalry with Mike Evans. However, near the end of his tenure in New Orleans, injuries started holding him back. After playing in 17 games in 2022 and 2023 combined, the team decided to part ways with him for three draft picks.
A contributor throughout their run to the NFC Championship Game, Lattimore seemed like an obvious candidate to be brought back by the squad. However, after playing just nine games in the year, the injury concern was too much for the Commanders to ignore.
As a result, they released him in March. But there are still a few teams in the NFL who could use his services on the defensive side of the football.
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1) Dallas Cowboys
Before the draft, it was clear that the focus for the Dallas Cowboys needed to be on defense. Between Dak Prescott, George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, and a rejuvenated run game, the offense was firing on all cylinders for the team.
However, the defense hadn’t yet recovered from the Micah Parsons trade, with the secondary standing out even more. According to PFN’s Defense Impact Metric, Dallas’ defense last season ranked worst in the league, posting an impact score of 53.4. The draft served as the perfect place for them to add more pieces, and Caleb Downs might be the best prospect they could have gotten.
But they didn’t draft a true cornerback till the fourth round. As a result, the team is still weak in that department. While Lattimore isn’t a perennial Pro Bowl candidate anymore, he can still be a factor in big games, as he proved in Washington. His experience and proven resume could be enough to entice Dallas to take a chance on him.
2) Carolina Panthers
Their rise hasn’t been as meteoric as the Washington Commanders’, but Lattimore could check a similar box for the Carolina Panthers as he did for that squad. Fresh off a playoff appearance, the team will be looking to take the next step and make a decision on Bryce Young.
But they’ll need to surround him with adequate talent, and the former CFP national champion could be the perfect addition to their core.
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3) New Orleans Saints
The vibes are extremely high for the Saints after they handed the keys to the franchise to Tyler Shough. An impressive end to the year has given the fan base renewed hope and paid off the trust a lot of veterans had in the organization.
Seeing names like Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara continue to thrive, adding Lattimore could give them another jolt in the arm. But more than a nostalgia act, the team needs help in the secondary, and this offseason hasn’t given them a definitive answer yet.
He would give them a recognizable face and instantly bolster the depth of the unit for the upcoming season as they try to capitalize on a wide-open NFC South.
