Updates from Washington Commanders general manager on several key players including Marshon Lattimore, Laremy Tunsil, Zach Ertz and Daron Payne.
With the NFL Combine week officially here, Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters met with the media where he dove into updates on several key storylines ahead of the acquisition phase of the offseason.
No decision on Marshon Lattimore
The Commanders enter the offseason with several question marks on both sides of the ball, but one of the more obvious moves for the front office is the decision to move on from cornerback Marshon Lattimore, which has yet to materialize after months of speculation.
Lattimore, who was acquired via trade midway through the 2024 season, has struggled in his season plus in Washington before suffering a season-ending injury that raised questions whether he played his last snap for the organization. Washington enters the offseason with a chance to move on from his contract with no added dead money and $18.5 million in extra cap space, but over one month after the 2025 regular season ended, his status remains unresolved.
Peters noted that the team has not made a “final decision” on his status for 2026.
“There’s a lot of things that go into that and we’ll still have a few more conversations, but until then, he’s still on our team.”
It didn’t help that Lattimore found himself in handcuffs days after the season ended, his second arrest since 2020, after being charged in Ohio following the new year.
An extension still expected for Laremy Tunsil
While one player acquired via trade by management could be on his way out, another expected to stay with the franchise is left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who has remained an extension candidate this offseason after Peters noted the two sides were in “constant communication” following the regular season. Peters emphasized there’s no timetable on getting an extension finalized with the two sides having “good and productive talks.”
“We’re as motivated as ever to get that done,” Peters added, before noting that neither said is interested in dragging this one like the Terry McLaurin saga a year ago.
Washington did make one move in the trenches after inking Andrew Wylie to a new two-year deal on Monday.
“He’s what we would call a true Commander in terms of his work ethic, his competitiveness. He’s an elite teammate and he’s super versatile,” Peters said of Wylie, who played over 1,100 combined snaps at guard and tackle over the last two offseasons.
No long term deal for Daron Payne
After lackluster production since signing a four year, $90 million deal following the 2022 season, there was a growing question whether another season would materialize with Daron Payne in Washington.
Peters expressed excitement for Payne to return where he will likely lead the defensive tackle room into 2026, but he also noted that Payne will play out the remainder of his contract rather than a restructured contract or extension that could add additional cap space for a team with ample financial flexibility this offseason. That means 2026 will be the final year of Payne's contract with a question as to whether he returns to the team beyond that.
Could a reunion materialize with a vet?
Washington remains in the market for a tight end this offseason with Zach Ertz entering the offseason on an expiring contract and the expectation that he opts to return from his season-ending torn ACL. The expectation was that Ertz would land elsewhere with some floating a reunion with Kliff Kingsbury in Los Angeles as a possibility, but Peters noted the Commanders will "keep the door open" on his return.
"We've had a lot of talks with him and his agent," Peters told John Keim. "Seeing how he progresses with his injury. But you can't count on anything." A report surfaced on Tuesday morning that Ertz is expected to be available around week one of the 2026 season.