It's been a campaign that won't live long in the memory of Washington Commanders fans. And the failure of young stars to reach a higher bar has played a leading role in the team's dismal output throughout the campaign.
And for third-year safety Quan Martin, patience seems to be running out.
Much was expected of Martin before the campaign. Fans and experts across the media were touting him as a breakout candidate. Coaches gushed about his raised confidence and consistency over the summer. Unfortunately, it's been a drastic decline for someone who now faces new uncertainty about his future beyond the campaign.
Commanders seem to be phasing Quan Martin out of their plans
The 2023 second-round pick just hasn't been consistent enough. Martin's positional sense is poor. He's finding coverage tasks difficult, and his tackling technique needs significant refinement. He's become a weak link, and head coach Dan Quinn reduced his involvement considerably during Washington's game against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Quinn allocated 30 percent of the Commanders' defensive snaps to Martin, which is a steep drop-off from the 86% he's logged in 2025. Jeremy Reaves got 84%, and Will Harris received 100%. That should tell fans all they need to know about how the former Illinois standout's performances are being perceived.
Adam Peters will likely implement some massive defensive changes this offseason. Anything less is organizational malpractice, so where that leaves Martin when push comes to shove is anyone's guess.
He's got one more year remaining on his rookie deal, counting $2.43 million against Washington's salary cap. That alone probably guarantees he'll be around, but any hopes he had of getting another financial commitment from the Commanders ahead of time have completely evaporated.
And depending on what reinforcements come into the fold, Martin's time as a starting-caliber option could also be over.
This is a bitterly disappointing development. Martin's gradual rise into a valuable member of Washington's defense has come screeching to an abrupt halt at the worst possible time. The Commanders thought he could become the alpha dog after letting Jeremy Chinn leave for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Based on his overall output this season, those in power were wide of the mark.
There is one game left for Martin to leave a positive impression. That's unlikely to change much in the grand scheme of things, but it could be enough to show that all hope is not lost just yet.
Whether Martin is capable of reviving his career aspirations in free fall is something else entirely.