Kamal Martin Overview
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’-3”
Weight: 240 pounds
School: Minnesota
Kamal Martin 2020 NFL Draft Profile
After four years with the Minnesota Gophers, linebacker Kamal Martin is taking his talents to the NFL level. The versatile defensive chess piece spent the majority of the season playing in an off-ball roll, and had his best season to date. Seeing the field for 484 snaps, Martin ended his season with 40 tackles, 18 assists, and 10 missed tackles.
Martin initially joined the collegiate ranks as a three-star prospect. Martin’s versatility was evident from a young age, as the Minnesota native played quarterback, linebacker, and safety while in high school. He originally committed to his home-state school, and it took the Gophers a while to figure out how to best use his skills. Martin spent his true freshman season as an ineffective edge defender before transitioning to a linebacker role as a sophomore.
The move paid off, as Martin put together a strong season in 2017. Appearing in a career-high 631 snaps, Martin recorded 28 tackles, nine assists, and four missed tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he spent 150 snaps rushing the passer and 156 snaps dropping back into coverage. Martin transitioned to more of a coverage role in 2018, recording 42 tackles, 15 assists, and 15 missed tackles as a junior.
Strengths
- Played a variety of roles during his time in college;
- Looks like a decent athlete on film;
- Can drop into coverage and doesn’t look completely out of place in the slot;
- NFL build with 95th percentile wingspan and 80th percentile height;
- Has the raw potential to turn into a defensive chesspiece.
Weaknesses
- Athleticism has not translated to consistent on-field play;
- Jack of all trades, master of none;
- Poor tackling fundamentals dating back throughout his collegiate tenure;
- Below-average ball skills and awareness;
- Slow processing speed when diagnosing blocking patterns;
- Indecision on running plays makes him easily blockable.
NFL Comparison: Harvey Langi
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, Washington Redskins
Projection: 7th Round/UDFA
Bottom Line on Kamal Martin
Kamal Martin is an intriguing late-round option for a team that’s ok with waiting a few years to develop a player. Based on raw tools alone, Martin has the ability to contribute at the professional level. While he didn’t receive an NFL Combine invite, his tape shows flashes of pro-level athleticism and all-around talent. Minnesota used him in a variety of roles throughout his time on the field and he showed some flashes in coverage, as an off-ball linebacker, and as a middle linebacker. Theoretically, he could turn into a solid player with the right coaching.
Martin has the tools, but he’s a long ways away from knowing how to effectively use them. He hasn’t been anything more than pedestrian during his time on the field, despite being more athletic than just about anyone he lined up against. His ability to move into the slot is intriguing, but his lack of ball skills ensure that he’ll be roasted there at the NFL level. He takes too long to diagnose plays and blocking patterns and is a below-average tackler. The potential is there, but ultimately he’s a long-term project that probably won’t pan out at the professional level.
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