Keyon Martin balled out against the Cleveland Browns. It didn’t end in a winning effort, but the Baltimore Ravens have a certified playmaker on their hands.
Their Week 6 loss was maddening. They made all the typical, tired mistakes that lead to their patented blown leads; the missed field goal and Derrick Henry fumble were back-breakers, and a last-minute coverage breakdown drove the stake in.
However, the defense was far from the problem, and I’d say it was more encouraging than anything. Martin’s performance was a huge plus. With that, Jesse Minter needs to find a way to get him more involved.
It’s time to unleash the 2025 undrafted free agent. Martin’s not a rookie anymore — he’s showing signs he’s for real.
Keyon Martin is moving back up the Baltimore Ravens' depth chart
Entering Week 6, Keyon Martin was a non-factor on Baltimore’s defense. After 23 defensive snaps in the season-opener, he played just one in the next four games. Chandler Rivers had taken his job in dime packages.
Well, Martin took it right back in Week 6.
Rivers was struggling to say the least. He’s allowed 12 receptions and a 125.3 passer rating when targeted, and has also had multiple missed tackles. It was time for Martin to have another shot, and he came to play.
The 25-year-old had a busy day. He finished with 3 tackles, including a beautiful open-field tackle, and added 1 sack, 1 QB hit, and 1 tackle for loss. Martin also tallied a pass breakup, and really should’ve had two if not for a questionable pass interference call on textbook coverage on a third-down play at Baltimore’s 10-yard line.
In his press conference on Monday, Jesse Minter commended Martin for how he fought back into the rotation.
“I give Keyon a lot of credit,” Minter said. “In Week 1, I thought there were some things he did okay, and then [we] started working Chandler in there a little bit. To [Martin’s] credit, oftentimes when that happens to a player, it can go one of two ways … I thought he played really well.”
Simply put, Martin looked excellent in Week 6. He registered a 71.2 grade, per Pro Football Focus.
That showing should lock up the dime role for the rest of 2026. It’s one game, but since he set foot in Charm City, he’s displayed something different. He plays with as much, if not more, passion as anyone on this team.
That energy is contagious — we heard about it all offseason. Those vibes can pick up a defense that’s endured agonizing struggles to close out games.
Keyon Martin deserves more than a dime role
But Martin’s role shouldn’t just be the go-to guy for dime looks. It has a chance to extend beyond that. 20-ish snaps might not be enough.
That’s especially true looking at the safety room. That group is struggling, particularly Jaylinn Hawkins. Hawkins has posted a 52.8 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus, and is allowing a 142.6 passer rating. That’s abysmal.
A potential solution? Moving to more two-safety looks at points throughout the game. Obviously you still want Kyle Hamilton to be the positionless superstar he is, and that should remain the main goal, but a handful of designed rotations that reduce Hawkins' role could get Martin more involved in the slot.
Martin can make plays up near the line of scrimmage, too. We saw it on Sunday with his sack of Deshaun Watson, and in Week 1 of the 2026 preseason, he tallied a sack and 2 tackles for loss. He has the potential to make impact beyond coverage play, giving the Ravens another way to capitalize on his playmaking ability.
At his best, Martin’s a bit more of a game-changer than your normal slot corner. He’s fearless with a relentless motor. He’s always on the prowl and is somewhat similar to Tavon Young, who was a fan favorite in Baltimore for several years. It’s no surprise Martin is becoming a fan favorite himself.
If Martin does more of what he did on Sunday, his role should keep expanding. You have to get your most impactful players on the field, and Martin might reveal himself as one of those guys in the coming weeks.
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