The Commanders are gearing up for the NFL’s free-agency blitz this month. The franchise agreed to re-sign offensive lineman Nick Allegretti to a two-year deal on Monday and informed cornerback Marshon Lattimore about plans to release him, according to sources familiar with the moves.
The exact terms of Allegretti’s deal were not immediately available on Monday. Lattimore was due to make $18.5 million next season. His release will be processed when the new league year begins next week.
Allegretti has started 21 games since arriving in Washington ahead of the 2024 season. Before signing with the Commanders, he won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Illinois product was relegated to backup duties last season, but he could see more opportunities in 2026. Allegretti started the last two games of the season at center in place of the injured Tyler Biadasz.
The Commanders released Biadasz last week in a surprise cut. Allegretti is now the top center on Washington’s depth chart by default.
Washington’s starting left guard, Chris Paul, is also slated to become a free agent. After a breakout year in 2025, cap analysts from Spotrac estimated that he could fetch a two-year, $10 million contract on the open market.
Lattimore’s release will give the Commanders an additional $18.5 million in cap space. The Ohio State product underwhelmed during his two seasons in Washington.
The Commanders sent third, fourth and sixth round selections to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Lattimore midway through the 2024 season. Hamstring issues limited his playing time during that campaign.
An ACL injury ended Lattimore’s 2025 season after nine games.
In 11 games with the Commanders, Lattimore recorded 31 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery. The nature of his contract — the Commanders face no cap penalty for releasing him — made the former Pro Bowler a cut candidate as Washington looks to rebuild its defense this offseason.
Off-field concerns didn’t help Lattimore’s case. The 29-year-old was arrested by police officers in Lakewood, Ohio, in January. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling a firearm in a vehicle.
Lattimore, a Cleveland native, faced similar charges in 2021. At that time, he was a passenger in a vehicle that police officers stopped for traffic violations. The defensive back pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor after failing to inform the authorities that he was armed.
An Ohio judge sentenced him to one year of probation, and prosecutors dropped the original felony charge.
The Commanders are expected to have about $86 million in cap space to spend in free agency, according to Spotrac. That number does not account for Allegretti’s new deal.
The NFL’s free-agent negotiating period begins on Monday, March 9.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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