Jayden Daniels gets the headlines as the franchise quarterback the Washington Commanders have craved at football's most pivotal position for years. However, one NFL analyst believes there is a strong building block on the other side of the football going completely under the radar.
Ron Rivera didn't hit many home runs during his four years at the helm. It's starting to look like standout safety Quan Martin might just be his biggest success story. Another progressive campaign from the Illinois product could see a lucrative new deal come his way ahead of time next spring.
Commanders have a gem on their hands with standout safety Quan Martin
Moe Moton from The Bleacher Report tabbed the former second-round pick as a potential franchise cornerstone that everyone is overlooking. The analyst highlighted the NFL's willingness to pay big money for game-changing safeties, something the writer thinks Martin is well on his way to becoming.
"While it's too early for [Quan] Martin to sign an extension, he may be in line for a new deal next offseason. Martin has worked his way into a starting role and doesn't have strong competition for the lead position. Martin made strides between his rookie and second seasons. As the Commanders' deep safety, he could force more takeaways in his second year as a full-time starter. Typically, teams are willing to pay big bucks to ball-hawking safeties. In 2026, Martin could earn a massive pay raise."
Moe Moton
Everyone who follows the Commanders closely knows what Martin is all about. He's exceptional in coverage, boasting the versatility to play in the slot of support on the back end. He's also got no problem putting his physicality to good use against the run to further enhance his influence.
The Commanders let Jeremy Chinn walk this offseason in favor of the Las Vegas Raiders. Their faith in Martin was a big reason why, and now he gets the chance to showcase his capabilities as the team's alpha in the safety room.
Martin will be extension-eligible next offseason with one year remaining on his rookie deal. If the defensive back meets or perhaps even exceeds raised targets, general manager Adam Peters will reward him accordingly.
And who knows, perhaps Martin will finally belong in the conversation among the NFL's elite safeties when push comes to shove.
