If Jacob Martin were 20 pounds heavier, he might have been a dominant edge rusher. As it is, the journeyman is a little too small to be a full-time defensive end and a little too suspect in space to be a full-time outside linebacker.
With that in mind, signing to play for the Washington Commanders under Dan Quinn may prove to be a smart move for the Temple graduate.
The Commanders will be Martin’s seventh stop in his NFL career. He has proven to be a very effective situational pass rusher who has maximized limited opportunities. He has lined up at both defensive end and strong-side linebacker. And he has been at his best when attacking.
At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Martin doesn’t profile as an every-down defensive end. He is athletic and would seem to be a natural fit as an outside linebacker in a base 4-3 scheme, or playing on the inside in a base 3-4.
Dan Quinn's experience can help Jacob Martin thrive with Commanders
However, Martin has performed better when moving forward. Dropping into zones and playing in space has not been a strength.
Quinn has a history with this type of player. When he took over as Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator in 2013, he moved a similarly undersized defensive end, Bruce Irvin, to linebacker. A few years later, he did the same thing with Vic Beasley after becoming Atlanta Falcons head coach.
Irvin and Beasley were both young first-round draft picks when Quinn got hold of them. To expect the same results from Martin, who was chosen in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, would be foolish. But the Commanders need pass rush help and throughout his career, he has been able to rush the passer.
Martin has only started 15 games in his seven years and registered 21 career sacks. That is one fewer sack than Chase Young.
When he signed with the New York Jets in 2022, Martin rejected the categorization of being a pass rush specialist. He wanted to be known as an every-down player. It didn’t work out, largely due to the emergence of Bryce Huff and a glut of similar players. He was traded in the middle of the season to the Denver Broncos where he was hampered by injuries.
That has been a microcosm of his career. Teams have sought him out but Martin has never been able to progress beyond rotational roles.
Many of his defensive coordinators raved about his ability. And he has produced. But whether it has been due to his size, bad luck with injury, or roster logjams, he never found the right fit.
Back in 2020, Washington signed a player in a similar position.
Kevin Pierre-Louis’ game was nothing like Martin’s. He was a cover linebacker. The similarity was that both were veterans who seemed ensconced in backup, situational roles. The second-level presence was given the chance to start in 2020 and he became a major contributor to the last good defense Washington has had.
Martin could have a chance to replicate that kind of success. He seems like an instant plug-and-play fill-in for Dante Fowler Jr. He will line up at linebacker, and perhaps at defensive end on occasion and he will attack the backfield. At 29 years old, it is unlikely he will be that every-down defender that he wanted to be back in 2022.
However, he will now be working alongside Quinn — a coach with a proven record of maximizing the talents of undersized edge rushers.
Quinn doesn’t have to turn Martin into Beasley, who was selected first-team All-Pro in his first season playing for the coach. Just getting him part of the way there will make him a very valuable part of the Commanders’ defense in 2025.
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