Guard Wes Martin, who was waived by the Giants last week, generated a fair amount of interest on the waiver wire. The Jaguars have top waiver priority due to their league-worst 3-14 record in 2021, so they were awarded the Indiana product when they put in a claim, but as ESPN’s Field Yates tweets, the Commanders and Chargers put in claims as well.
Had Washington’s claim been successful, it would have represented a reunion for player and team. The Commanders made Martin a fourth-round pick in 2019, and he started 10 games for the club over the 2019-20 seasons. He did not survive the 53-man cut in advance of the 2021 campaign, though he did clear waivers and sign with Washington’s practice squad. He was poached by the Giants in late September and ultimately appeared in seven games (one start) for Big Blue.
With the Commanders, Martin would have served as useful guard depth behind presumptive starters Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner, both of whom were signed this offseason. The Chargers likewise appear to be on the lookout for interior OL reinforcements behind Matt Feiler and first-round rookie Zion Johnson.
In Jacksonville, Martin is obviously not going to unseat the newly-acquired Brandon Scherff at right guard, though he could theoretically push 2020 fourth-rounder Ben Bartch for the starting LG gig. Bartch started 11 games for the Jags in 2021 and played well at times, though his 62.1 overall grade from PFF is underwhelming.
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