After the Tennessee Titans traded Jeffery Simmons, it seemed like the front office might go into a fire -sale mode that could have included several additional players. The Titans made one deal, trading Amani Hooker to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round selection.
However, the player who should have been the most attractive on the trade market was EDGE Jacob Martin. It isn't hard to see why that's the case when you start looking carefully at what he gives the defense, and what he costs this organization.
First and foremost, Martin is a pass rusher who fits this system. Despite bouncing around to several teams in his time in the NFL, it only took him half a season with the Titans to have a career year.
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi was right to keep Jacob Martin at the NFL trade deadline
It can be easy to try to discredit his production for one reason or another, but look harder. Martin didn't just thrive off of Jeffery Simmons being double-teamed, in fact, three of his 6.5 sacks came against the Cincinnati Bengals after Simmons had already been traded.
Martin also isn't a guy who did all of his damage in one or two games. He has had at least a sack in half of the games this season.
Martin does the dirty work, wins with effort and power, and doesn't quit on a play. That mentality has led to his most productive year in the NFL. Halfway through the season, he is top-10 in the league in sacks, and he plays on a team that doesn't get to pin their ears back and rush the passer very often.
What are the Titans paying for that top-end production? $4.5 million AAV on a deal that runs until the end of the 2027 season.
Jacob Martin was worth keeping on a team-friendly contract
Martin is among the Titans' most valuable commodities. The former Temple standout is a cheap pass rusher who is on pace for double-digit sacks. That is something that every team in the NFL should covet, and the Titans were right to keep him on the roster for next season.
Even in a situation where the Titans are amassing as many assets as they can to help the team in 2027 and beyond, even at the potential expense of the 2026 season, there is nothing that the Titans would realistically get that would be as valuable as what Martin provides.
Assuming the Titans don't win the lottery and get the first overall pick, the most likely option for this franchise in the 2027 NFL Draft is a first-round EDGE. That means Martin is going to be in a position room with three players on rookie contracts that the Titans invested in heavily.
Having a veteran like Martin with proven NFL production will set a good example for Femi Oladejo, Keldric Faulk, and any incoming rookie. Martin can point to his 2026 season as an example of what these young players can do if they buy into this scheme, is something you can't just bring in off of the street in free agency.
That is worth more than whatever plans they may have had for another Day 3 pick.
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