Jacob Martin may have a quick opportunity to bounce back from his Broncos release. A day after that cut, the Texans brought Martin in for a visit, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.
Although this can be viewed as more of a reacquainting, seeing as the Texans have been Martin’s primary NFL employer throughout his five-year career, the team has changed coaches (again). Martin, 27, is meeting up with the team’s DeMeco Ryans-led staff.
Martin began his career with the Seahawks and split the 2022 season with the Jets and Broncos, but he suited up for the Texans from 2019-21. Houston acquired Martin as one of the assets sent over in the Jadeveon Clowney trade, bringing in the young linebacker just before the ’19 season. Martin worked as both a rotational edge player and a starting outside rusher in Houston, totaling 10.5 sacks in three Texans seasons.
His 14-start 2021 campaign, which included four sacks and a safety — on a play in which Martin corralled Kyler Murray on a rushing attempt — enticed the Jets to give him a three-year, $13.5MM deal that included $6MM guaranteed. The Jets bailed on that contract quickly, sending it to the Broncos on the same day Denver dealt Bradley Chubb to Miami. That pick-swap trade only led to five Martin games with his hometown team. The Denver-area native finished last season — a one-sack slate — on IR due to a knee injury. The Broncos saved $3.8MM in cap space by cutting Martin.
The Texans did make a major draft investment at defensive end, trading a monster haul to move up nine spots for Will Anderson Jr., but they lost both Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Rasheem Green from last year’s edge corps. The rebuilding team still rosters Jonathan Greenard, Jerry Hughes and free agent pickup Chase Winovich. Houston also drafted TCU’s Dylan Horton in the fourth round.