Former UFL MVP Adrian Martinez is fighting for a roster spot with the New York Jets for a second straight summer. Unlike last summer, Martinez’s improvement has been much more noticeable.
The Kansas State product has begun to raise the question: Can he carve out a role beyond being just a camp arm in New York?
Can he somehow crack the New York Jets roster?
A look at the numbers
Here is a look at where Martinez stacks up in important metrics after two preseason games among quarterbacks who have recorded a minimum of 50% of their team’s dropbacks:
62.2% completion percentage (15th)
266 Yards (11th)
7.2 yards per attempt (9th)
1 Touchown (T-11th)
1 Interception (T-Second Best)
1 Turnover Worthy Play (T-Second Best)
9.6 ADOT (6th)
14 First Downs (10th)
81.6 Passer Rating (15th)
Yes, it is only the preseason, but Martinez’s production would rival what some teams expect from a second-string quarterback in the regular season if they needed to take the reins for a few weeks.
The one area that stands out in a negative light is passer rating; his 81.6 mark sits just below the league average of 90 to 95.
Aside from one ill-advised interception, however, Martinez has avoided the reckless throws and questionable decisions that plagued him a year ago.
A look at the Film
Let’s analyze nine of Martinez’s 21 dropbacks from the Jets’ 31-12 loss to the New York Giants this past Saturday.
Play 1
At the 15:00 mark of the second quarter, with the Jets trailing 7-3, Braelon Allen’s four-yard run set up second-and-6. New York sold a play-action look, and the offensive line held firm, giving Martinez a clean pocket to settle in without the miscues that plagued him last summer.
The concept simplifies his progression, asking for little more than a single read, a design that plays directly to his strengths as a mobile, “one-read-and-go” quarterback. Martinez keeps his eyes up, spots Brandon Smith flashing open across the middle, and places the ball on target for an efficient chunk gain.
Play 2
A minute later, after a holding call pushed the Jets back to first-and-20, Martinez lined up in the shotgun. Right guard Kohl Levao was beaten inside, collapsing the pocket and forcing Martinez to work under pressure. Still, he released the ball on time and fired a strike over the middle to Brandon Smith.
Most importantly, he read the hot correctly by instantly making the left-side No. 1 weapon the primary due to the Giants’ pressure coming from the right.
These are the types of reps NFL teams look for in a backup quarterback: managing pressure, keeping the offense on schedule, and sustaining momentum.
Play 3
With 12:37 left in the second quarter and the Jets facing third-and-8 near midfield, the Giants’ pass rush blew up a designed slot screen to Jamaal Pritchett. Rushers closed in within two seconds, forcing Martinez to avoid a costly sack by throwing the ball away in a safe spot. The play brought up fourth down, but his quick decision preserved a solid punting position.
The breakdown stemmed from the near-side edge rusher disrupting the play before it developed. Whether Martinez held the ball too long, failed to sell the look, or drifted too far right, the play never came to fruition. Although it was third down, instead of taking a significant loss, the Jets were able to flip the field with their punt.
Play 4
With 10:11 remaining in the second quarter and the Jets still trailing 7-3, Martinez lined up under center on first-and-10. He sent rookie fourth-round pick Arian Smith in motion before rolling out on a play-action bootleg. Drifting toward the left sideline, Martinez checked down to Brandon Smith for a short gain after Arian Smith failed to separate downfield, and Jamaal Pritchett was covered.
The play produced little yardage, but it was a solid rep for Martinez, working through his progressions and resisting the urge to force a throw that wasn’t there.
The coach’s film room nitpick would ask the quarterback to decide on the flat more swiftly. This way, the receiver would have more time to work in space.
Play 5
With 8:53 left in the second quarter on third-and-2, out of the shotgun, Martinez motioned Brandon Smith inside before he broke on a dig route. With a clean pocket, Martinez made the right read as Smith used his physicality to create more than enough separation from his defender.
However, the throw sailed way too high, costing the Jets a chance at a new set of downs near midfield and forcing the punt team to come onto the field.
Play 6
With 2:18 left in the second quarter on first-and-10, as the Jets approached the two-minute drill trailing 7-3, Martinez worked out of the shotgun and found undrafted rookie running back Donovan Edwards on a swing route for a seven-yard gain, though Edwards slipped after the catch.
Martinez’s eye discipline was lackluster on this one, as he stared down the left side of the field throughout the entirety of the play, allowing linebackers to shade toward Edwards and Jamaal Pritchett.
Play 7
With 6:15 left in the second quarter on third-and-10 and the Jets trailing 7-3, Martinez had time in the pocket to survey the field and made the right decision to take a deep shot to Arian Smith.
The ball placement was where it needed to be on a 50-50 jump ball, but Smith has never thrived in those situations, converting just 16.7% of his contested catches in college.
This one isn’t the best quarterback play. While an underneath target was there, the third-and-10 situation made it a dicey option (thanks to the linebacker depth). What Martinez needed to do was throw Smith more open.
Had he thrown it flatter and further away, so it pulled Smith away from the high safety, the Jets would have had a much better shot at a completion.
Play 8
With 9:45 remaining in the third quarter and the Jets trailing 14-6 on second-and-4, Martinez lined up under center, sidestepped pressure off the right side, and spotted a wide-open Arian Smith down the sideline. Unlike the previous rep, when he showed poise and placed the ball well on a contested throw, this time he sailed it far out of reach.
For a roster-bubble quarterback, those are the freebies that have to be converted, the kinds of missed opportunities that can erase the positives on tape.
Play 9
With 3:40 left in the third quarter on third-and-4, the Jets were driving into Giants territory when Martinez made his worst mistake of the night. Facing pressure, he rolled outside the pocket but forced a throw between Arian Smith and tight end Stone Smartt that was intercepted.
For a quarterback on the roster bubble, those are the decisions that cannot happen. On third down, the right choice was to eat the play, set up a punt, and flip the field, not commit a turnover.
Is Adrian Martinez more than just a camp arm?
Although mistakes remain, such as the interception and the overthrow to Arian Smith, it is easy to see why Martinez was named UFL MVP just two years ago.
Following the Giants game, he landed on my 53-man roster projection. With a strong showing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, he may not clear waivers if the Jets try to place him on their practice squad.
Martinez is also familiar with offensive play-caller Tanner Engstrand from their time together in Detroit, giving him an added grasp of the scheme.
While the California native is not a starting-caliber quarterback at this stage, or even a clear No. 2, he represents a high-upside third-string option. With Tyrod Taylor aging and on an expiring contract, the Jets could look to develop Martinez into a future long-term backup.
He has the tools to fit that role: mobility, the ability to extend plays outside the pocket, a willingness to push the ball downfield, and, when disciplined, a track record of limiting turnovers.
For now, Martinez remains a work in progress, but if he continues to pair his mobility and arm talent with more thoughtful decision-making, the Jets may find themselves developing more than just a camp arm; they may have uncovered a legitimate long-term backup.