If the San Francisco 49ers had an opportunity to easily grab Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore a few years ago, it would have been foolish not to at least explore it.
Now, though, it's an entirely different story.
According to a report from CBS Sports, the Washington Commanders are poised to release Lattimore at some point in the near future, parting ways with the 29-year-old veteran after just two seasons in the nation's capital.
The #Commanders are currently expected to release cornerback Marshon Lattimore, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 2, 2026
The former first-round pick made nine starts for Washington this past season. pic.twitter.com/WAZ7SUHl7d
Again, two or three years ago, this would have been a bigger deal. But, in the wake of those two injury-plagued years in which Lattimore played a combined 18 regular-season games between Washington and the New Orleans Saints, it's hard to get excited about the 2017 first-round draft pick's availability.
Even though the Niners have an apparent need.
49ers need CB help, but Marshon Lattimore isn't it
San Francisco's offseason defensive needs are pretty heavy, and cornerback is a position general manager John Lynch and Co. can't wholly ignore.
Deommodore Lenoir played well enough in 2025 but seemed more of a CB2 than a true shutdown option, while nickel corner Upton Stout displayed plenty of promise his rookie season. Yet two questions arise with both depth and No. 2 cornerback Renardo Green's immediate future, which has since been clouded by a clash with head coach Kyle Shanahan and subsequent trade rumors.
There aren't any proven and rostered options behind that trio either.
That said, the 49ers took a stand a year ago about getting both younger and cheaper. And, after last year's injury-plagued campaign, staying healthy is a primary objective, too.
Based on those three simple factors, Lattimore is an easy pass.
Approaching 30 years old and coming off back-to-back injury-plagued campaigns, Lattimore is likely to seek the best value he can get on the open market with a contender. While the Niners meet the latter criteria, they're not going to have much interest in overbidding for an aging veteran.
No thanks.