Quan Martin

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		49	3	10	232
2025		17	0	3	99
2024		16	1	3	87
2023		16	2	4

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Quan Martin's $1.9M AAV deal represents a smart value play that earns a B+ CVI, positioning itself as a slight underpay for proven NFL safety depth. While Martin profiles as a rotational player rather than an every-down starter, securing that level of production at under $2M annually reflects savvy roster construction in today's inflated safety market. The $5.1M guaranteed out of $7.6M total suggests the signing team structured this with reasonable protection while maintaining flexibility — a solid middle ground that avoids dead money risk without shortchanging the player. At this salary tier, Martin doesn't need to be a defensive centerpiece to justify his contract; he simply needs to provide reliable coverage when called upon and contribute meaningfully on special teams. This deal exemplifies the type of shrewd depth signing that championship contenders make, acquiring functional NFL talent without breaking the bank or creating long-term financial commitments that could hamstring future roster moves.

Performance Analysis

Quan Martin is a 26-year-old free-agent safety with three NFL seasons and 49 career games under his belt, still searching for a consistent starting role. His current-season grade sits at a D+, reflecting a player who has yet to translate raw physical tools into reliable production. At his age, there remains developmental runway, but time to prove himself as a viable starter is shortening. Martin's calling card is his tackling volume — he's averaging 5.82 stops per game this season, comfortably above the NFL average of 3.85 and approaching the elite threshold of 6.81. That physicality and pursuit suggest a box safety profile, reminiscent of a younger Tashaun Gipson before scheme refinement unlocked his full value. The critical weakness is pass defense, where his 0.18 pass deflections per game falls well short of the 0.30 league average and far behind the 0.60 elite benchmark — a gap that limits his coverage versatility considerably. His season trend tells a concerning story: a D in 2023, another D in 2024, and only a modest uptick to a C- in 2025, suggesting incremental improvement but nothing resembling a breakout. To stick on an NFL roster long-term, Martin needs to sharpen his coverage instincts and become a legitimate threat in zone schemes. If he lands with a run-heavy defense that schemes him near the line of scrimmage, his tackling upside could finally translate into a meaningful role.

Current Sentiment

Quan Martin enters the 2026 offseason as a fringe free agent safety whose modest career production — three interceptions and ten passes defended across three seasons — places him firmly in the depth/rotational tier of NFL personnel evaluations. His $1.9 million annual value reflects a league-wide assessment of a player who has shown flashes of competence but has yet to distinguish himself as a reliable starter. The broader media conversation surrounding the Washington Commanders' secondary needs is notable, as multiple outlets have identified the position group as an area requiring reinforcement, which could organically create an opportunity for Martin to earn a roster spot. However, none of the recent coverage specifically highlights Martin as a solution, suggesting he remains below the threshold of players generating meaningful buzz among analysts or fan bases. Heading into 2026, Martin's perception is that of a serviceable depth piece whose path to relevance depends heavily on injuries, scheme fit, and a strong training camp performance rather than any established reputation.