Defensive End Jacob Martin Signs 2-Year Contract With Tennessee Titans

Martin is not a household name. He’s not the guy whose jersey you’ll see at every tailgate. But that’s exactly the kind of player that wins you football games. Martin is a grinder. A guy who has bounced around the league, taken his lumps, learned from every stop, and somehow keeps finding ways to get to the quarterback.

Martin was a sixth-round pick out of Temple back in 2018, selected by the Seattle Seahawks. Since then, he has worn the uniforms of seven different NFL teams — the Seahawks, Houston Texans (twice), New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and, most recently, the Washington Commanders. Eight teams in eight years. That is a man who refuses to quit.

And last season? Martin reminded everyone why you never count out a veteran pass rusher who is hungry to prove something.

Martin Just Had the Best Season Of His Career

At 30 years old, Martin turned in the finest campaign of his NFL life. Playing in all 17 games and starting 14 of them for Washington, Martin posted career-highs with 5.5 sacks and 18 quarterback hits. He also chipped in with 1 forced fumble, all while playing a critical role on a Commanders defense that had real teeth.

Let that sink in for a second. Year eight in the league, and the man is still getting better. That’s not luck. That’s film study, discipline, and the kind of work ethic that coaches dream about.

For the Titans, who already acquired Jermaine Johnson via trade earlier this offseason, adding Martin to the edge gives Robert Saleh a legitimate two-headed monster off the edge. Cedric Gray is also in the mix on the inside. Suddenly, Tennessee’s defensive front looks a whole lot more dangerous than it did a week ago.

Robert Saleh Is Rebuilding This Defense

If there’s one thing that’s crystal clear about this Titans offseason, it’s that Saleh has a vision, and he’s executing it with the precision of someone who has been waiting a long time to get this shot.

Saleh knows edge rushers. He built defenses around them in New York, and now he’s doing the same thing in Nashville. Signing Martin, a player he actually crossed paths with during Martin’s brief stint with the Jets in 2022, is not a coincidence. Saleh knows what Martin brings to the locker room, knows how he plays, and knows what buttons to push. That familiarity matters more than most people realize.

General Manager Mike Borgonzi has been right there with him, making calculated moves that suggest the Titans are not rebuilding just to rebuild. They’re building to compete.

What This Deal Means For Tennessee Going Forward

At up to $11 million over two years, Martin’s contract is a bargain if he comes anywhere close to replicating his 2025 performance. That’s the kind of deal that ages beautifully — assuming Martin stays healthy and continues trending upward.

The Titans have been among the most active teams in free agency, burning through their cap space with purpose. Every signing has a rationale. Every move tells a story. Martin’s story fits perfectly into the culture Saleh is trying to build.

This is not a team throwing money at problems anymore. This is a franchise that finally looks like it knows what it’s doing. Nashville better be ready, because this defense is starting to look like something special.