Breaking down 49ers 3rd round pick Nick Martin and setting expectations for his rookie season
The San Francisco 49ers filled a massive need in the third round when they drafted Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin with their first pick of the round.
Martin, who was selected 75th overall, was viewed by many draft pundits as a “reach” or a player drafted too early based on where he was on consensus boards. According to Mockdraft’s database, Martin was 170th overall.
We don’t care about that. The NFL proves annually that it is wrong in its player evaluation. This year will be no different. What we care about are the traits Martin brings and whether he appears to be a good fit alongside Fred Warner.
I loved what Dee Winters showed and how he progressed as a player in his first real year of action last season. Unfortunately, Winters was a mainstay on the injury report. He left little reason for the 49ers front office to believe he can make it through a season with a clean bill of health. Plus, after last year’s debacle when [redacted] walked off the field, San Francisco had little choice but to select a linebacker when they did — if they viewed Martin as a Day 2 prospect.
Martin confirmed that he’s fully recovered from the MCL injury that cut his final season at Oklahoma State short after starting the first five games. Martin started every game in 2023 and saw limited playing time as a freshman. So, his rookie year will essentially be Martin’s “senior” year. Another way to look at it is that this will be his third season of playing linebacker, suggesting he has plenty of room to grow.
Box scores can be deceiving. Martin had 13 tackles, nine run stops, and a pair of quarterback hits in Week 2 against Arkansas. I thought he was world’s better two weeks later against Utah when he only had five tackles — he missed three tackles — and wasn’t near as productive in the stat sheet.
That doesn’t mean Martin wasn’t as impactful. His profile is that of a prospect who has a nose for the football. Sports Info Solutions has a stat that attempts to measure defensive impact called “Hit or Ball percentage.”
It captures how often a defender makes a hit or tackle on an offensive player or is involved in a play. Martin had the fourth-highest HOB percentage among all linebackers in the class. He also was third in tackle share percentage, which is another sign that Martin has a knack for being around the football.
None of that explains the how or why of a prospect. Martin is in the second percentile in weight among linebackers. Did he show enough reps throughout a game or season where you notice him to be at a disadvantage playing at 221 pounds? Or do you see the elite athlete with 81st percentile or better scores in 10, 40-yard, vertical, and broad jumps, as well as a bench press?
Martin toes the line between being aggressive and reckless. Against Arkansas, he looked like a chicken with his head cut off the way the Razorbacks used misdirection. Martin was running all over the play, often out of his gap, leaving gaping holes in the running game.
That wasn’t the case against a more “normal” offense like Utah. Against the Utes, Martin demonstrated discipline, physicality, competitiveness, and the football IQ necessary to excel at linebacker.
He made mistakes. In the video below, I highlighted two of Martin’s missed tackles. One led to an explosive play, while the other resulted in a first down and a fresh set of downs for Utah. But if you watch the process of each play, you will come away thinking Martin would win the other 99 percent of those plays had they been simulated.
I focused less on the splashy plays (which are often hollow) and more on why you hardly notice Martin is 221 pounds. His aggression offsets his weight. Winning with speed helps, but in the video, you’ll see Martin has the small details mastered, like “working to half a man.” If you’re bound to go against 300-pounders 20 or so snaps a game, there’s no sense in taking them on head-on.
Martin is an exceptional run blitzer. That was an issue for the 49ers last season, especially with [redacted]. Martin caused a handful of chaotic plays that were blown up in the backfield, thanks to his effectiveness as a run blitzer. His speed and athleticism are a luxury, but that’s not what made him a 3rd round pick. Watch the video below for a better idea of what the 49ers are getting in Martin and why he hardly comes off as a player drafted too high.
My takeaway from watching Martin in this game was he has the fundamentals and doesn’t rely on being fast. Best of all, Martin is a competitor. He’s a good fit who can make a difference. That’s what you want in a linebacker.