There hasn't been much for the Washington Commanders to cheer this season. However, one unheralded veteran has provided a much-needed spark that almost nobody saw coming.
It's been an absolutely dismal six weeks for the Commanders, who've gone from potential Super Bowl hopeful to keeping a close eye on top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. But Washington still needs to show some fight the rest of the way, and head coach Dan Quinn's squad made some progress in that regard during defeat to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid.
The defensive side of the ball was much better than it had been for the past month after Quinn took over coordinator duties from Joe Whitt Jr. One player in particular continues to be an unexpected bright spot.
Jacob Martin continues to emerge as genuine bright spot in Commanders' disaster season
The Commanders have been decimated by injuries this season, and one position they're especially hurting is at defensive end. Starters Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Deatrich Wise Jr. are both out for the year, as is backup Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
All of this, combined with the preseason release of veteran underperformer Clelin Ferrell, allowed journeyman free-agent signing Jacob Martin to become one of the biggest silver linings on the Commanders' 2025 roster. He's gone from a player who wasn't even considered safe to make the team to arguably Washington's top pass-rusher ever since Armstrong went down.
Martin recorded a sack of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in Week 11, bringing him to 4.5 on the year. That gives the eight-year pro a career-high in that category, surpassing the four he registered in 2021 with the Houston Texans. He trails only Armstrong (5.5) and Von Miller (5) among his Commanders teammates.
Across the board, Martin has had a career year. He's set personal bests in sacks, combined tackles (26), and quarterback hits (12). He's done all of this while playing on his seventh NFL team, and his fifth in the past four years.
Even the bad franchises need somebody to contribute. That's likely part of the case with Martin. He's playing a role he probably wouldn't have on any other team in the NFL, and to his credit, he's making the most of it.
Martin isn't a long-term piece for the Commanders, and he probably won't be on the roster beyond this season. But for someone who signed in Washington for $2.4 million, he's turned out to be a massive bargain of a pickup for general manager Adam Peters.
If the same trend continues after the bye week, the Commanders would be wise to keep him around.