Former Illinois Fighting Illini defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton won't have to worry about finding a tour guide when he joins the Washington Commanders.
The Commanders lost the turnover battle on Sunday, but they won the game. Rookie safety Jartavius Martin picked off a pass by Patriots quarterback Mac Jones with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Commanders will leave New England as 20-17 winners.
Thursday was a historic day for the Commanders off the field, but the team has also made transactions ensuring all members of their rookie class will be on the field in time for training camp.
The Washington Commanders have officially signed No. 47 overall pick DB Jartavius Martin to a rookie contract, according to his agency. Martin, 23, was named Second-team All-Big Ten in 2022 for Illinois.
If you’ve watched the Washington Commanders over the years, one of the more noticeable aspects of their defense was poor tackling. Things changed when Ron Rivera took over in 2020.
The initial reviews are in for the Washington Commanders’ 2023 NFL draft class, and most are positive. However, not everyone thought the Commanders had a particularly strong draft.
Did the Commanders finally get a player in the second round who will make sizable contributions for Washington? Friday, with the 47th pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Commanders selected Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois.
Jartavius Martin NFL Draft Overview Position: Cornerback Height: 6′-0″ Weight: 195 pounds School: Illinois 2023 NFL Draft Profiles Jartavius Martin began his college career in Champaign, in 2018.