Quan Martin - Commanders S
- Fate: Trade candidate or role demotion in 2026
Quan Martin was expected by many fans and experts to have a breakout campaign for the Washington Commanders this season. The hard-hitting safety came on significantly when moved to the backend by head coach Dan Quinn in 2024. Unfortunately, it's been an underwhelming campaign from the 2023 second-round pick.
Martin struggled to establish himself as the alpha dog. Losing veteran Will Harris early in the campaign didn't help, but that's no real excuse. Nothing has really clicked for the Illinois product, and it would be a surprise if the Commanders didn't look for reinforcements at the safety position when the 2026 offseason arrives.
Missed tackles, coverage lapses, and an apparent lack of confidence have caused his regression. If the Commanders draft someone like Caleb Downs or target one of the premier free agents set to his the market, Martin becomes a trade candidate or could be demoted to backup duties unless there is legitimate growth this offseason.
Tyler Owens - Commanders S
- Fate: Special-teams ace/roster bubble candidate in 2026
Speaking of safeties, fans were expecting to see much more from Tyler Owens this season. But, as has been the case throughout his career, his physical talent has never matched his on-field production.
Owens has every athletic intangible a player on the backend could want. He's got the size, scope, and explosiveness that look tailor-made for Dan Quinn's schematic concepts. Still, something is preventing the coaching staff from getting him heavily involved in the defensive rotation.
The Commanders prefer experience right now, for what it's worth. That's restricted Owens to special-teams duties, which allows him to be instinctive and use his explosiveness more freely. It's been a recipe for success, but a massive summer awaits the Texas Tech product in pursuit of making the squad or carving out a larger role for himself.
This roster is going to look entirely different next spring. What that means for Owens in the final year of his deal remains to be seen.
Johnny Newton - Commanders DL
- Fate: Buried on the rotation in 2026
It's starting to look like the Commanders might never get a significant return on their investment in Johnny Newton. While the interior defensive lineman is young enough to turn things around, it's going to take a lot of patience and hard work to justify his high second-round billing.
The Commanders thought they'd secured a steal of epic proportions when Newton slipped through the cracks and into their laps at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was a stuttering rookie year, but the flashes from a pass-rushing standpoint suggested that a bigger role could be in the offing this season with a little extra polish.
That hasn't arrived. The Commanders prefer Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne as their starting defensive tackle tandem. Newton's inability to be impactful against the run has seen him fall behind veteran Eddie Gooldman in the pecking order. Unless there is a drastic shift, he could be buried on the rotation once again in 2026.