Marshon Lattimore used to be the guy. If you followed the New Orleans Saints during their late-Brees era, you knew the drill: Lattimore would shadow the opponent's best receiver, get into a verbal (and sometimes physical) spat with Mike Evans, and walk away with a PFF grade that made him look like a future Hall of Famer. He was the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year for a reason.
But things have changed. Fast.
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The Pro Football Focus Marshon Lattimore data from the last couple of seasons tells a story that stats alone might miss. It’s a narrative of injuries, a change of scenery to the Washington Commanders, and a statistical cliff that has many wondering if the "shutdown corner" label still applies. Honestly, the 2025 season was a bit of a disaster. If you look at the raw numbers, Lattimore finished the year ranked 96th out of 114 eligible cornerbacks. That’s not just a "down year"—that’s a full-blown identity crisis for a player who once lived in the PFF 101.
The Washington Trade and the PFF Fallout
When the Commanders sent a haul of 2025 draft picks to New Orleans for Lattimore in late 2024, the "trade grades" were through the roof. PFF’s own analysts initially gave Washington an "A" for the move. They saw a secondary that was bleeding yards and figured a four-time Pro Bowler was the band-aid.
It didn't work.
Lattimore’s debut in Washington was actually okay—he earned a 71.1 grade against his former team in Week 15 of 2024—but the 2025 campaign saw his performance crater. He was hit with a 52.1 overall defensive grade. For context, that’s deep into "replacement level" territory. The sticky man coverage that defined his early career seemed to evaporate. Instead of being the guy who didn't allow a single touchdown in single coverage for nearly two years, he started looking vulnerable to the deep ball and, more importantly, the injury bug.
Why the Grades Plummeted
PFF grades are unique because they don't just care about the interception. They care if you were in the right spot. They care if the quarterback didn't throw your way because you had the receiver smothered.
Lattimore’s issues lately seem to stem from three specific areas:
- Lower Body Injuries: You can't be an elite corner without explosion. Between hamstring strains and the torn ACL in late 2025, Lattimore has spent more time on the trainer's table than on the field.
- Consistency vs. Name Value: There’s a running joke among NFL scouts that Lattimore plays up or down to his competition. PFF stats back this up. He might lock down a superstar like Justin Jefferson but then get torched by a WR3 on a random Sunday in October.
- Scheme Fit: Moving from the Saints' aggressive press-man system to the Commanders' evolving defensive looks caused some friction. He ended up with a coverage grade of 51.2 in 2025—a career low that most fans didn't see coming.
The "Mike Evans Effect" and Statistical Anomalies
Even in his down years, the Pro Football Focus Marshon Lattimore profile has some weird quirks. For instance, he famously "owns" Mike Evans. Even when Lattimore’s season-long grade is in the 60s, he typically posts an 80+ grade when facing Tampa Bay. It’s bizarre. It’s like he needs a personal grudge to flip the "elite" switch.
However, the 2026 outlook is murky. Lattimore is entering a "make-or-break" year with a massive contract and a surgically repaired knee. If he can't get back to that 70.0+ baseline, Washington might be looking at one of the more expensive trade mistakes in recent franchise history.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking Lattimore's value—whether for your own team's roster or just to understand the game—keep these points in mind:
- Ignore the Pro Bowl nods: Lattimore often gets selected based on name recognition. Look at the PFF coverage grade specifically; if it's below 65.0, he's being beaten more often than the broadcast suggests.
- Shadow Rates: Watch how often the Commanders (or his next team) actually ask him to shadow. In 2025, that rate dropped, suggesting the coaching staff no longer trusts him to travel with a WR1 for 60 minutes.
- The Age 30 Wall: Cornerbacks usually fall off a cliff at 30. Lattimore is right on that edge. His recovery from the ACL tear will determine if he’s a veteran starter or a situational depth piece moving forward.
The bottom line? The tape doesn't lie, and neither does the grading. Lattimore has the talent to be a top-10 corner, but the data suggests those days are fading into the rearview mirror. If you're looking for a lockdown performance in 2026, you might want to look elsewhere on the PFF leaderboard.