The Washington Commanders will lean on a local product to be a big part in upgrading the 2026 safeties
The safety play for the Washington Commanders was subpar in 2025, which may still be putting it lightly. While it may not have been at the top of the priority list ahead of the draft and free agency with a laundry list of positional needs and nearly three dozen departing free agents, the backline still needed attention. It got a bit of that after inking DMV native and former Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross in the opening week of free agency, but the rest sits on what changes come with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones now overhauling a defense that Joe Whitt Jr. struggled with in 2025.
Cross, 24, has consistently been among the best tacklers at his position since he became a full-time starter in 2024, posting consecutive seasons with at least 120 tackles. Only Budda Baker has posted more than Cross's 226 tackles since the start of the 2024 season while his 16 quarterback pressures ranked second-most. His 72 solo tackles ranked third at his position as Cross played in over 1,100 snaps in 2025, marking the second-most by any safety, while being involved in 14% of the Colts' defensive plays in his last season with the franchise. Though his coverage skills in the NFL have drawn mixed reviews, his arrival gives the Commanders a clear upgrade at strong safety.
Yet with Jones, Washington could turn to more three safety looks as reason why the message through OTAs and minicamp was for the defenders to learn more than just their position. Washington returns Percy Butler and Tyler Owens alongside special teams standout Jeremy Reaves after inking a new offseason deal. But with versatility looming large, that matters for Will Harris and Quan Martin.
Biggest Training Camp Question: How do Harris & Martin Fit?
Harris arrived with positional versatility that could matter with experience at both safety spots and cornerback, though he struggled mightily at free safety after missing at least 10% of his tackles for the third straight season while allowing completions on 60% of targets. A fractured fibula would then end his first season as a Commander after appearing in just nine games, giving him a chance to prove himself once again along the backline.
Similar could be said for Martin, who started all but one of Washington's 17 games in 2025, his third season with the organization, despite battling consistent injuries. His ten missed tackles marked a career-high, yet so did his 154.5 passer rating allowed when targeted -- comfortably surpassing the 86.4 rating he allowed as a rookie in 2023. Though he's amassed four forced fumbles and six pass deflections over the last two seasons, 2025 marked his first season without an interception. Now under a coordinator that has made clear takeaways are a priority, Martin has a chance to prove 2025 was an outlier. Did being less than 100% all season play a role? 2026 can prove that.
Martin adds IQ to the backline, but with Jones implementing three safety looks, could Martin also be used in nickel packages with Amik Robertson? The former second round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft will need to showcase that -- and consistently.
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