It came as no surprise to see general manager Adam Peters focus his attention on defensive reinforcements when the legal tampering window opened. The Washington Commanders needed to rejuvenate this aging, underperforming unit to give new coordinator Daronte Jones the best possible chance of hitting the ground running. And the front-office leader was aggressive in filling key needs.
However, one notable signing could mean a free-falling draft pick is on the outside looking in moving forward.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Commanders have signed Nick Cross. It's a two-year, $14 million deal for the standout safety, who cashes in on a superb 2025 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts.
This is the injection of energy and vibrance Washington's defensive back end needed. Cross is a lightning rod player with tons of upside. He is progressing encouragingly in all phases, although his efforts in run support last season were sometimes inconsistent.
Quan Martin's future with the Commanders now looks shakier than ever
Either way, this looks like an immediate upgrade on anything Washington has in its safety room right now. And for Quan Martin, it turns up the heat in no uncertain terms.
Martin was projected to have a breakout campaign in 2025, the third of his NFL career. He didn't come close to meeting expectations, with woeful tackling, poor coverage, and plummeting confidence playing a leading role behind his demise. Even though the Commanders were playing for nothing other than pride down the stretch, that didn't stop head coach Dan Quinn from diminishing his reps considerably.
Jones praised Martin — and almost every other safety, for that matter — during his introductory press conference. Fans took this with a grain of salt, knowing Washington's actions on the recruitment front would be far more telling. Cross's arrival speaks volumes, and the Illinois product now has his work cut out to stay in the team's plans.
Martin will likely get his shot over the summer. The Commanders don't need to be in any great hurry to remove him from the equation. An added sense of urgency, along with a more aggressive scheme, could bring him back to life. Still, the margin for error has almost completely vanished for the 2023 second-round pick.
This might not be the only new safety arrival, either. The Commanders remain strongly linked with Caleb Downs at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pairing him with Cross brings mouthwatering potential, leaving Will Harris and Jeremy Reaves as the rotational/backup options if Martin cannot turn things around.
The stakes have been raised for Martin. But in all honesty, this is something he was probably already aware of.