Jacob Martin’s early-season surge is turning into one of those moves the Commanders would love to have back.
Washington overhauled its edge-rushing group this offseason under general manager Adam Peters, and while the unit has been better than it was, letting Martin leave in free agency is beginning to stand out as a costly miss. He arrived in Washington last year on a one-year deal and was supposed to be a rotational pass-rush piece. Then injuries ripped through the roster, and Martin was asked to do far more than anyone planned.
He handled it well. Martin consistently created pressure, and even without elite burst, his technique and relentless effort made life difficult for opposing offensive lines.
That production was enough to earn him another chance, and the Tennessee Titans moved quickly. They signed him to a two-year, $9 million contract that included a $2 million signing bonus and $4.5 million guaranteed. Robert Saleh has been using him exactly the way Washington wanted to, and Martin has delivered.
Through that role, he has become one of the league’s most productive pass rushers. He already has seven sacks and 29 pressures, and Tennessee is getting the kind of confident, physical play it needed on the edge. For that price, it has already turned into a bargain.
Martin’s run defense still isn’t his calling card, but the Titans are leaning into what he does best. He’s been on the field for 59 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, and that freedom has let him attack quarterbacks without being asked to do too much else.
Meanwhile, Washington’s edge room has changed plenty. The Commanders brought in Odafe Oweh on a massive $96 million deal, and he has been solid without fully matching that number yet.
K’Lavon Chaisson signed a one-year contract and could be headed for another payday. Dorance Armstrong Jr. is working back slowly, and rookie fifth-round pick Joshua Josephs has shown some promise.
Even with those additions, Martin’s production would have fit nicely in Daronte Jones’ defense. His work last season in Washington already justified another look, but the Commanders chose not to make it happen.
Now Peters is stuck watching Martin flash for a struggling Titans team, and there’s nothing left to do about it. He passed on paying him a reasonable amount, and Martin is answering with the kind of season that makes that decision look worse by the week.
It’s a career renaissance for Martin, and the warning signs were there in Washington before he took it up another level elsewhere. The Commanders aren’t the ones cashing in on it, and that’s what makes this one sting.
In Other News...
Commanders May Be Getting The Rams Defense They Didnt Want
The pass rush the Commanders were hoping to avoid appears to be back on the menu in Week 9. Myles Garrett has been working his way back from knee surgery, and after practicing all week, the star edge rusher is expected to be activated from Injured Reserve ahead of Los Angeles game against Washington.
The Rams are still evaluating his readiness before making it official, but the signs point toward him being available Sunday. For a Commanders offense already staring at a tough matchup, the timing could hardly be worse if Garrett is cleared to suit up. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face A Brutal Test With Their Offense Under Pressure
The Rams arrive in Week 9 with some momentum, having bounced back from an earlier loss with two straight wins as they try to push their record above .500. For Washington, the timing is tricky. The Commanders are coming off a win, but the bigger picture still shows a team with a losing record and a roster dealing with injury issues, which makes this matchup feel like a real measuring stick for where the offense stands right now.
Los Angeles brings a balanced challenge, and the matchup leans into the areas where the Rams have looked most capable lately. They have shown advantages both on the ground and through the air against a Washington defense that will have to hold up under pressure for four quarters. With the betting market backing the Rams, the Commanders are left needing a cleaner, more efficient offensive outing than the one they can afford to waste. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Short-Week Roster Squeeze Before Rams Game
Washingtons short week is already turning into a roster-management test before the Rams arrive, with the receiver room taking on some early wear and tear. Treylon Burks missed both practices because of a foot injury, while Dyami Brown was limited with a calf issue, leaving the Commanders to juggle health and availability as they try to get through a quick turnaround.
The moves on the transaction wire showed how tightly things are being managed, with Robert Henry Jr. activated and Ricky Barber moved onto the active roster as Washington keeps patching together depth. The Rams are dealing with their own injury concerns and roster shuffling, including promoting kicker Joshua Karty, so both sides are heading into the matchup with more questions than theyd like for a game that is coming up fast. [Read more 🡒]