Jeremiah Martin

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bears struck solid value with Jeremiah Martin's 2-year, $9M deal, earning a B- CVI that reflects smart roster building at a reasonable price point. At $4.5M AAV, Chicago is paying above-average starter money for a defensive end who should provide consistent pass rush production without breaking the bank. The modest 2-year term limits long-term risk while the $4.5M guaranteed suggests the Bears can move on after year one if Martin doesn't meet expectations. This contract structure is particularly savvy given the volatility of the pass rusher market, where teams often get burned on longer deals for aging edge players. Martin's deal represents the type of prudent middle-tier signing that builds depth without hampering future cap flexibility, giving Chicago a reliable rotational piece who could outperform his modest investment if he stays healthy and maintains his current production level.

Performance Analysis

Jeremiah Martin sits firmly in replacement-level territory among NFL defensive ends, a third-year player whose D+ performance grade reflects a career that has yet to carve out a defined role at this level. His entire statistical footprint this season amounts to 2 tackles across 2 games — a production floor that signals depth-chart obscurity rather than a developing starter. There is no identifiable statistical strength to build a case around; the tape is simply too thin to point to any area where Martin has distinguished himself. The weakness is broader than any single metric — it is a fundamental question of whether he belongs on a 53-man roster at all, given the journeyman arc his career has followed. Undrafted and already cycling through multiple organizations, Martin is squarely the kind of fringe player who earns roster spots when injuries force a team's hand, not because of demonstrated performance value. The media framing around his Chicago signing was blunt: routine roster churn, a practice squad body, and a player whose brief stints with the Saints and Commanders generated little meaningful evidence of upside. With the Bears sitting at 11-6 as the NFC's No. 2 seed heading into a regular season still months away, Martin's path to relevance runs almost entirely through attrition — and even then, the bar he would need to clear remains well above where his production currently sits.

Fan Sentiment

A low-risk practice squad addition with minimal immediate impact for Chicago. Multiple headlines confirm Martin is a roster-depth move, not a significant signing. The strongest signal is his journeyman status, cycling through Saints and Commanders without sticking. Fans will barely notice this move amid a flurry of similar depth signings post-2025 season. Martin projects as a camp body unless injuries force him onto the active roster.