Commanders staring down a $3 million decision that shouldn't be this easy

"When the Commanders signed edge rusher Jacob Martin to a one-year deal in free agency, fans didn't quite know what to expect. He's flashed promise at various stops, but he never did enough to solidify a starting role long-term. After a strong summer, he made the 53-man roster, but most experts thought this would be as a rotational backup and nothing more."

"Injuries to key personnel thrust Martin into a more prominent role. It was a journey into the unknown for the 2018 sixth-round pick out of Temple, but he's coped remarkably well under challenging circumstances. Martin has 5.5 sacks, 39 total pressures, 22 quarterback hurries, and 17 run stops to his name with two games remaining. He's logged 60 percent of the team's defensive snaps, and even though he's a little undersized, the effort and explosiveness have provided Washington with a welcome boost."

"With the player out of contract this offseason, the Commanders would be wise to keep him around. Spotrac projects the veteran to get another one-year, $2.77 million deal, which is slightly up from the $2.4 million he's counting against Washington's salary cap in 2025. He might want a little more, but it seems feasible if Peters believes he's worth keeping around."

The Washington Commanders enter their final two games before the 2026 offseason with significant roster decisions ahead. General manager Adam Peters faces the league's most pending free agents and needs another roster overhaul. Jacob Martin earned an expanded role after injuries, logging 60 percent of defensive snaps with 5.5 sacks, 39 pressures, 22 quarterback hurries, and 17 run stops. Martin's effort and explosiveness have boosted a thin edge-rushing group. Spotrac projects a one-year, $2.77 million market for Martin, a modest increase over his 2025 cap figure, making re-signing him a feasible, cost-effective short-term option.

Read at Riggo's Rag