Quan Martin came into Commanders training camp with a simple assignment and a lot of pressure attached to it: show that his athletic traits can translate into consistent answers at safety.
For a while, that question hung over him. Back at the end of June, he was already being framed as a player running out of time to settle his future in Washington. Since then, though, Martin has started to stack up the kind of plays the Commanders have been waiting to see.
He now has two interceptions in as many preseason games, with the latest coming against Lions quarterback Josh Dobbs. That stands out even more because Martin finished 2025 without a pick. His overall production that season was solid - 99 tackles, a forced fumble and three passes defensed - but the missing interceptions and uneven tackling kept the concern alive.
After the Lions game, Quinn made it clear he still believes Martin has the tools to matter in this defense.
"He’s always somebody that has good ball skills, and he’s got the speed to get to the locations for that. So, I’m not surprised," Quinn said. "He’s usually at his best when he’s got, as a high safety, to come and make some plays."
Quinn wrapped up his thoughts on Martin by saying, "He’s off to a great start," and that sounds like a coach who is watching closely and liking what he sees.
The Commanders also raised the standard for Martin when they brought in Nick Cross, giving him less room to simply blend in and more reason to show he can bring something extra. So far in the preseason, that’s exactly what Martin has done. He’s been showing range on the back end, creating ball production and making the kind of plays that can flip a possession.
That said, the tackling question is still sitting there. Martin’s issues there from last year haven’t been answered yet, and there hasn’t been enough evidence to say the problem is fixed.
The next test comes in Baltimore, with a joint practice this week followed by one more preseason game before the results start to count. Martin entered camp with a shrinking window to prove he could be a dependable safety. After two preseason games, he’s making that answer a lot easier to see.
Three Commanders also picked off Dolphins passes on Thursday night - Martin, Ale Kaho and Malik Spencer - giving another look at what Daronte Jones’ defense might look like this season.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have Trade Candidates As Final Cuts Close In
Adam Peters is coming up on one of the busiest stretches of the preseason, with the Commanders needing to trim their roster from 90 players to 53 by the deadline. As Washington sorts through a few crowded position groups, the front office has some tougher calls than usual, and a handful of players who may not fit the final picture are suddenly part of the conversation.
Treylon Burks and Jordan Magee are among the names worth watching as the Commanders weigh whether to keep depth, deal from it or simply move on. In a league where every roster spot matters, Washington appears open to finding value wherever it can before the final cuts hit, which makes these next few days more than just a formality. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Safety Decision Already Looks Worse Than Fans Feared
A preseason miscue was enough to push Will Harris to the edge, and the Commanders ended up cutting ties with the veteran safety after a performance that had already been raising concerns behind the scenes. Washington still has other options in the secondary it believes are better fits, so the move also gives the front office some salary-cap relief while it reshapes the back end of the defense.
Harris had one year left on his contract, which is what makes the decision feel like more than a routine roster churn move. The bigger question now is whether his time in Washington is simply over or whether he can land somewhere else and prove the Commanders moved on faster than they needed to, especially with the starting job conversation already looking shaky before the release. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Is Taking Washingtons Offense Into A Dangerous New Phase
The Commanders have spent this preseason pushing their offense into a more demanding and less predictable shape, with Jayden Daniels taking on more control at the line and more responsibility for steering the operation before the snap. The idea is to get beyond a tightly scripted approach and let the quarterback use his football IQ and passing ability to create answers in real time, while the rest of the skill group stays sharp enough to keep pace with what the defense is showing.
It is the kind of shift that can make an offense harder to defend, but only if everyone around Daniels is ready for the same level of detail. Washington is still working through issues up front, and the addition of Stefon Diggs gives the unit another piece to deploy as it tries to become more versatile and more dangerous. For now, the bigger question is how quickly all those moving parts can mesh once the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]