Washington Commanders have a clear plan with Jartavius Martin pick

The Jartavius Martin selection highlights a clear plan for the Washington Commanders in the 2023 NFL Draft

The Washington Commanders used the 16th pick in the second round (47th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft to select defensive back Jartavius Martin out of the University of Illinois. It was proof of the direction the team wants to go this year.

Washington has one of the better defenses in football. However, the secondary had some glaring holes in it. In fact, it was something I mentioned a few weeks ago. The Commanders needed to try and rebuild their secondary through the draft, instead of continuously attempting to fix their problems in free agency.

With their first pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Washington selected cornerback Emmanuel Forbes out of Mississippi State. Forbes gave them a lengthy and speedy corner that they could potentially plug in as their number one immediately.

However, one cornerback doesn’t just suddenly fix all your problems. The Commanders seem to agree because Martin was soon joining him in the secondary.

If you look up information about Martin, some people will have him listed as a cornerback, while others call him a safety. In reality, Martin is a nickel corner. And he might be the best in the draft.

Listed at 5’11”, 194 lbs, the Illinois product is a great tackler with good ball skills. He’s going to help you in coverage but can make an impact against the run as well. A phenomenal college career wasn’t by accident.

Washington has now spent both of their draft picks so far on defensive backs. Both should make an impact immediately. Clearly, they recognized a weakness and decided to attack it.

Emmanuel Forbes will be one of their top cornerbacks immediately, working with Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste to create a really solid group. Jartavius Martin can plug in as a nickel corner.

Or you could look at the safeties. Kamren Curl, Darrick Forrest, and Jeremy Reaves showed potential last season. Showing potential doesn’t always equate to production, though. Martin adds more potential to that group, while also being an impact player from day one.

The Washington Commanders are off to a phenomenal start in the 2023 NFL Draft. Not only have they focused on one of their biggest weaknesses, but they absolutely nailed both picks.