Jeremiah Martin

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Above-replacement production at the DE salary tier earns Jeremiah Martin a C+ Contract Value Index. At $4.5M AAV over two years, Martin is priced as a depth-rotational edge rusher—a fair-market rate for a reserve competitor with minimal starter equity, though the contract's modesty reflects his replacement-level standing rather than any particular bargain. The 2025 season production of 2 tackles across 2 games aligns squarely with the reserve classification; he is being paid roughly market rate for what he has demonstrably delivered, which is marginal on-field return. At 26 years old in his rookie season, Martin carries inherent uncertainty—a two-year deal provides the Bears runway to evaluate whether he develops into a rotational contributor or cycles out—but the low AAV insulates Chicago from meaningful downside if he fails to progress. The media framing is clear: he arrives as organizational depth competing for snaps in a crowded edge rusher room, not a cornerstone piece or prospect with trajectory, making this a straightforward below-average-production-at-market-rate contract. The CVI grade reflects that equilibrium: neither a bargain nor an overpay, but a sensible depth investment that expects minimal growth and carries limited cap consequences if he does not materialize into anything more than what he has been.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Jeremiah's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

On tape and on the stat sheet, Jeremiah Martin earns a C+ performance grade among DE peers. Martin's first NFL season produced minimal counting stats—2 tackles across 2 games in 2025—which reflects both limited opportunity and a depth-chart positioning that offers little margin for error in a competitive edge rusher room. His lack of Pro Bowl selections or All-Pro recognition, combined with that sparse production, signals he has not yet made a meaningful impact at the position, despite being 26 years old and in his rookie season. The Bears signed him to a reserve-level contract worth $4.5M annually, a figure that underscores his current standing as rotational competition rather than a cornerstone pass rusher; his snaps will likely remain tied to injury relief and situational packages unless he drastically outperforms expectations in the coming preseason. Martin enters the 2026 campaign with virtually no national profile or media momentum—recent coverage frames him as procedural roster depth rather than a prospect with trajectory—and the Bears' continued focus on edge rusher investment elsewhere suggests he remains a journeyman fill-in battling for practice-squad legitimacy. Without a genuine preseason breakthrough or standout camp performance, Martin's path to regular-season relevance appears narrow, and he will need to prove durability and impact immediately to shift the replacement-level read that currently defines his profile.

How Jeremiah Compares at the Position

Jeremiah Martin ranks 46th of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Jeremiah between Malcolm Koonce (B-) just ahead and Braden Fiske (C+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Bears add depth to defensive line with Jeremiah Martin, a solid rotational contributor. Media coverage is modest, suggesting Martin is a relatively low-profile acquisition. Limited headline prominence indicates he's a backup-level signing rather than a starter. Fans view this as a typical roster-building move without immediate impact expectations. Chicago likely seeks defensive line depth for 2026 without committing significant resources.