Cheesehead
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Martin perhaps could have been a Day 2 draft selection if not for the injury. He had been playing outside linebacker in the 2017-18 seasons before shifting inside, and he took to it naturally, in part due to his QB background and understanding of defensive fronts.
As an all-state prep star in Burnsville, Minn., he wasn't just an athlete lining up under center, Rossi said, but a "legitimate quarterback," to which his college offers attest. He's smart, learns quickly, and at 6-3, 240, has just scratched the surface of what he can do at inside linebacker as he makes the transition to the pros.
"Anytime a linebacker goes to the NFL, the linemen are much more athletic, so they get up on you more," Rossi said. "Sometimes in college you can just outrun them. In the pros that doesn't happen as often. You have to be able to use your hands and get off them."
Martin's long arms, which measured 34 inches at the combine, will help there, and he told reporters after the draft he expects the knee to be fully healthy by training camp.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said Martin will have a chance to earn a role on defense right away. He'll be competing with Oren Burks, Curtis Bolton and Ty Summers for the second inside 'backer spot alongside free-agent acquisition Christian Kirksey.
His primary ticket to Green Bay's roster as a rookie, though, will be on special teams. He took great pride in the third phase throughout his college career, another way his leadership was counted on by the coaching staff.