The Niners stayed on the defensive side of the ball with their third-round pick.
The San Francisco 49ers went for their Dre Greenlaw replacement at No. 75, taking Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin with their first third-round pick.
Martin is an intriguing selection, as he’s one of the most unique athletes at their position in the draft. While his height (5’11 1/2) and weight (221 pounds) are near the bottom of any NFL linebackers, the Oklahoma State product has top-tier athleticism and is a sideline-to-sideline player.
Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said about the Oklahoma State linebacker:
“A two-year starter at Oklahoma State, Martin was a Mike linebacker in former defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo’s 3-3-5 base scheme. He put himself on the NFL radar as a sophomore (one of six FBS players with 140 tackles or more in 2023), and he was on pace to average double-digit tackles again in 2024 before a right knee injury sidelined him.
“Built more like a muscular safety, Martin is an easy mover with the straight-line burst and true sideline-to-sideline range to be a run-and-chase ‘backer. He is an aggressive striker, and his tackle production speaks for itself, but his average length and point-of attack-strength will hurt his ability to sift through NFL traffic and disengage from pro blockers. Overall, Martin doesn’t have the size that most teams desire at the position, but his urgent athleticism will give him a chance to earn a role as a Will linebacker. He should find regular work as a core special-teamer and be the first man off the bench on defense.”
Martin had a serious knee injury in 2024, but it doesn’t seem to have hurt his draft stock.
There are serious height-weight questions, but Martin, like Brugler said, is an aggressive linebacker with great athleticism. That’s very similar to Dre Greenlaw, and we saw how much the 49ers missed that type of player last year.
He can be over-aggressive at times, but the 49ers like that style of play, and he has solid arm length (31’ 3/4’’ arms) for his size. Back as a starter in 2023, Martin was a ferocious run defender, racking up 66 run stops in 14 games, according to PFF, and he also has potential as a blitzer, which Robert Saleh can take advantage of.
Consensus-wise, this pick does seem like a reach at No. 75, but that’s countered by the way he fits San Francisco’s play style and the need for a No. 2 linebacker. San Francisco has also done extensive work on him throughout the draft process, having met with him at the combine before conducting a Zoom meeting with linebackers coach Johnny Holland.
The 49ers have usually found ways to make things work at the linebacker position with smaller athletes, and Martin was productive in college, racking up over 140 tackles as a junior.
But, given the depth of the draft and the struggles stopping the run defensively in 2024, the 49ers need this pick to hit, and soon.
Grade: C+