When it comes to the Washington Commanders and their 1 season with edge rusher Jacob Martin, we can now say he was 1 of the few players on the roster who held up their end of the bargain in 2025.
Playing on a 1-year, $2.585 million contract, the journeyman former 6th round pick played in all 17 games with 14 starts and finished 39 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a whopping 18 QB hits — all career highs.
Martin cashed in on his big year in free agency on Thursday.
“Sources: The Titans are signing former Commanders OLB Jacob Martin to a 2-year deal worth up to $11M,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account. “Martin comes off career-highs in sacks (5.5) and QB hits (18) for Washington. Another addition to the Tennessee defense. “Titans HC Robert Saleh continues to add former players to his defense — this time reuniting with OLB Jacob Martin.”
The Titans valued Martin enough to pay him over his market value.
“Martin had a projected market value of about $2.8M per year — and Tennessee pays well above that to bring him in,” Darts 2 Leek wrote on X on Thursday.
Titans Went Crazy With Free Agent Spending
Martin was part of a free-agent spending spree by the Titans under new head coach Robert Saleh, who was Martin’s head coach on the New York Jets in 2022.
“At 6-foot-2, 242 lbs, Martin gives the front four another speed rusher coming off the edge,” Titans reporter Turron Davenport wrote on his official X account.
Saleh will be Tennessee’s 3rd head coach in 4 years, and the Titans are coming off back-to-back 3-14 seasons in 2024 and 2024. They’ve also brought in a high-profile offensive coordinator in former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
The Titans have added 14 players through trades and free-agent signings, including spending over $300 million on new contracts since NFL free agency opened on Monday.
“The Titans have added a couple of pass rushers now in Jacob Martin and Malik Herring,” Titans reporter Jacob M wrote on his official X account on Thursday. “Not sure they move the needle forward, but the room is getting more crowded.”
Jacob Martin Finally Lands Huge Payday
Martin deserves a ton of credit for finally landing a huge payday — for him at least — after making a total of $15 million combined over his first 8 seasons, where he’s racked up 26.5 career sacks.
Selected in the 6th round (No. 186 overall) out of Temple in the 2018 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks, Martin is now on his 8th team in 9 seasons. He played 1 season for the Seahawks followed by stints with the Houston Texans (twice), Jets, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and Commanders.
The Commanders, for their part, completely overhauled the edge rusher position in free agency by signing former 1st round pick Odafe Oweh to a 4-year, $100 million free agent contract followed by a 1-year, $12 million contract for former 1st round pick K’Lavon Chaisson.
“Washington adds youth and length by signing Oweh,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote. “He’s 27 years old, 6-foot-5 and athletic. The Commanders needed all those attributes along the front. Washington lacked quality depth at edge, so this is a move that was sorely needed. They will get Dorance Armstrong back off a torn ACL, but the Commanders needed more … they are are betting big on Oweh being an ascending player. He’s recorded 17.5 sacks the past two seasons combined.”
Commanders Lose 26.5-Sack Edge Rusher to Upstart AFC Team