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Quan Martin

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Quan Martin
refer to caption
Martin in 2023
No. 20 – Washington Commanders
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (2000-04-17) April 17, 2000 (age 25)
Lehigh Acres, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Lehigh Senior (Lehigh Acres)
College:Illinois (2018–2022)
NFL draft:2023: 2nd round, 47th pick
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles:133
Sacks:1
Forced fumbles:3
Pass deflections:7
Interceptions:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jartavius Quan Martin (born April 17, 2000) is an American professional football safety for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Commanders in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life

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Martin was born on April 17, 2000, in Lehigh Acres, Florida.[1] He attended Lehigh Senior High School, where he recorded 38 tackles and two interceptions for their football team.[2] Martin was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.[3]

College career

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Martin moved to cornerback as a freshman and became a starter early on.[4][5] Martin was moved back to safety in 2021.[6] He finished the season with 55 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, seven passes broken up, and one forced fumble.[7] Martin used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned for a fifth season in 2022.[8]

College statistics
Season Games Tackles Solo Ast TFL Sacks Int FF FR TD PD
2018 9 44 25 19 2 0 3 0 0 0 3
2019 8 23 14 9 2 0 0 0 2 0 0
2020 8 38 25 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
2021 12 56 33 23 3.5 0 1 0 0 0 6
2022 13 64 51 13 3.5 1 3 2 0 0 11
Career 50 225 148 77 10.5 1 7 3 2 0 22

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11 in
(1.80 m) 		194 lb
(88 kg) 		31+1⁄8 in
(0.79 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.46 s 1.47 s 2.51 s 44.0 in
(1.12 m)		 11 ft 1 in
(3.38 m)		 15 reps
[9][10]

2023

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The Washington Commanders selected Martin in the second round (47th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.[11] He was the second safety selected after second-round pick (45th overall) Brian Branch. He notably became the first of five defensive backs drafted from the same Illinois' secondary spanning from 2018–2020. His fellow defensive backs from Illinois included Nate Hobbs (2021), Kerby Joseph (2022), Devon Witherspoon (2022), and Sydney Brown (2023).[12]

Martin making a tackle against the New York Jets, 2024

On July 22, 2023, the Washington Commanders signed Martin to a four–year, $7.63 million rookie contract that includes $5.11 million guaranteed upon signing and an initial signing bonus of $2.55 million.[13][14]

He entered training camp projected to compete for a role as a starting nickelback against Danny Johnson and was a possible candidate to be a starting safety along with Kamren Curl and Darrick Forrest.[15] Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio had Martin learn to play safety, cornerback, and nickelback during training camp. Martin looked impressive throughout training camp, but struggled throughout the preseason.[16] Head coach Ron Rivera named him a backup and listed him as the fifth safety on the depth chart to begin the season, behind Kamren Curl, Darrick Forrest, Jeremy Reaves, and Percy Butler.[17]

On September 10, 2023, Martin made his professional regular season debut in the Washington Commanders' home-opener against the Arizona Cardinals, but was limited to 18 snaps on special teams before leaving for a concussion evaluation as the Commanders won 20–16. He was confirmed to have suffered a concussion and subsequently remained inactive for the Commanders' 35–33 victory at the Denver Broncos in Week 2. He was relegated to special teams for the first four games of the season. Martin began earning significant snaps on defense in Week 6 after Darrick Forrest was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. On Week 9, Martin recorded one pass deflection and sealed the Commanders' 20–17 victory at the New England Patriots after making his first career interception on a pass by Mac Jones to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with 38 seconds remaining.[18][19] In Week 12, he earned his first career start as a nickelback and recorded two combined tackles (one solo) during a 10–45 loss at the Dallas Cowboys. Following the game, head coach Ron Rivera fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and took over as his replacement for the remainder of the season. On December 17, 2023, Martin set a season-high with ten combined tackles (seven solo) and had his first career sack on Matthew Stafford during a 20–28 loss at the Los Angeles Rams.[20] In Week 18, he made four combined tackles (three solo), one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Dak Prescott to wide receiver Michael Gallup during a 10–38 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.[21] He finished his rookie season with a total of 46 combined tackles (28 solo), four pass deflections, two interceptions interception, and one sack in 16 games and five starts. He had all five starts as a nickelback and started the last four games. Head coach Ron Rivera was fired following the completion of the 2024 NFL season after the Commanders finished with a 4–13 record. He received an overall grade of 65.4 from Pro Football Focus as a rookie in 2023.[22]

2024

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On February 3, 2024, the Washington Commanders hired the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach.[23] He entered training camp as a possible candidate to earn a starting role at safety, along with Jeremy Chinn and Darrick Forrest, following the departure of Kamren Curl.[24] Head coach Dan Quinn selected him to be the starting free safety to begin with season and paired him with starting strong safety Jeremy Chinn.[25]

On October 27, 2024, Martin set a season-high with 11 combined tackles (nine solo) as the Commanders defeated the Chicago Bears 18–15. On December 29, 2024, Martin made eight combined tackles (seven solo), set a season-high with two pass deflections, and had his lone interception of the season on a pass thrown by Michael Penix Jr. to wide receiver during a 30–24 overtime victory against the Washington Commanders. He was inactive for the Commanders' 23–19 victory at the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18 due to an unspecified illness.[26] He finished the season with 87 combined tackles (50 solo), three pass deflections, and only one interception in 16 games and 16 starts.[27] He received an overall grade of 59.2 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 115th amongst 171 qualifying safeties in 2024.[22]

The Washington Commanders finished the 2024 NFL season second in the NFC East with a 12–5 record to clinch a Wild-Card berth. On January 12, 2025, Martin started in his first career playoff game and recorded four combined tackles (two solo) during a 23–20 victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild-Card Game. On January 18, 2025, Martin made three combined tackles (two solo), one pass deflection, and had his first career pick-six after intercepting a pass by Jared Goff to wide receiver Tim Patrick and returning it 40–yards to score the first touchdown of his career during a 45–31 victory at the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round.[28] On January 26, 2025, Martin started in the NFC Championship Game at the Philadelphia Eagles and recorded five combined tackles (three solo) as the Eagles routed the Commanders 23–55 and would go on to win Super Bowl LIX.

Personal life

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Martin goes by his middle name Quan.[11] He works as an unofficial team barber for the teams he plays for; he learned the profession by watching videos on YouTube during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns.[29]

References

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  1. ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2022 NFL draft guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 282. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Regan, Adam (August 8, 2017). "Lehigh DB Jartavius Martin says Illinois is where he needs to be". The News-Press. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Ryan, Shannon (July 31, 2017). "Illinois adds two more commitments from Florida to 2018 recruiting class". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Caldwell, Dana (August 10, 2018). "College football Lehigh's Jartavius Martin turned corner for Illini". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Wagner, Joey (September 12, 2018). "Jartavius 'Quan' Martin breaking into Illinois football spotlight". Herald & Review. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  6. ^ Wagner, Joey (April 1, 2021). "'I get to be me': Quan Martin comfortable again at safety in new Illini defense". 247Sports.com. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  7. ^ Cummings, Darren (August 13, 2022). "Jartavius Martin: A look at the Illinois football defensive back". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  8. ^ Richey, Scott (July 27, 2019). "Top 50 most important Illini: No. 6 Quan Martin". The News-Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  9. ^ "Quan Martin draft and combine prospect profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  10. ^ "Jartavius Martin, FS, Illinois". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Jhabvala, Nicki (April 28, 2023). "Commanders draft Illinois DB Quan Martin, Arkansas C Ricky Stromberg". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  12. ^ "Illinois drafted players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  13. ^ Selby, Zach (July 21, 2023). "Commanders sign Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Quan Martin". Commanders.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Spotrac.com: Quan Martin contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  15. ^ Zach Selby (July 19, 2023). "2023 training camp preview: safety". Commanders.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  16. ^ Zach Selby (July 19, 2023). "Washington Commanders DB Quan Martin has to 'earn right' for defensive snaps". si.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  17. ^ "Washington Commanders final 90-man depth chart of 2023". hogshaven.com. August 25, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  18. ^ Flick, Daniel (November 5, 2023). "Quan Martin's INT caps strong day for Washington Commanders rookies vs. New England Patriots". SI.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Commanders-Patriots stats & snaps". Commanders.com. November 6, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Rams – December 17th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  21. ^ Brener, Jeremy (January 7, 2024). "Watch: Commanders rookie Quan Martin picks off Cowboys QB Dak Prescott". SI.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Quan Martin". PFF.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  23. ^ Selby, Zach (February 3, 2024). "Dan Quinn named Washington Commanders' 31st head coach". Commanders.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  24. ^ Selby, Zach (February 13, 2025). "Commanders 2024 position review | Safety". Commanders.com. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  25. ^ Dean Jones (August 4, 2024). "Commanders free-agent signing draws inspiration from franchise legend". riggorad.com. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  26. ^ "Martin: sidelined by illness in week 18". CBSSports.com. January 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  27. ^ "Quan Martin career overview". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  28. ^ Washington Commanders Public Relations (January 19, 2025). "Commanders–Lions stats & snaps". Commanders.com. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  29. ^ Selby, Zach (June 20, 2023). "Quan Martin's barber skills put him a cut above the rest". Commanders.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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