Nick Martin NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Texans Rookie

POSITIVES

The brother of 2014 first-rounder Zack Martin, Nick Martin enjoyed a fantastic week at the 2016 Senior Bowl that saw him shoot up this draft board. A versatile interior lineman, Martin should see the field as a rookie.

A two-year team captain and three-year starter (playing both center and left guard), Martin has the experience you want in the man running the show up front. He matches experience with athleticism, showing the power to win at the point of attack and the agility to get in space and do damage to linebackers and wide pass-rushers. Martin is a finisher with a mean streak who dominated Senior Bowl practices with his leverage and hand placement.

He is relaxed and poised out of his snap. It’s a clean, effortless movement to go from the exchange to his punch. He has quick elbows and fast hands to execute a punch and plays with a readiness that’s impressive for a college lineman. Martin moves well in a straight line and will attack linebackers mercilessly. When I viewed him live against USC, he dominated over and over again on inside runs.

NEGATIVES

A knee injury suffered against BYU in late 2013 cost Martin the rest of his redshirt sophomore season and was still holding him back early in 2014. It would be unfair to compare him to his brother Zack, as he’s not as athletic since his knee injury or as refined as a pass-blocker.

The biggest issue on film with Martin is poor hip flexibility and explosion. He too often gets rigid when engaged with a defender and can lose his man when asked to counter against a hard swim or rip move. If he can’t shadow and slide to cut off the secondary pass-rush move, his outside shoulders get exposed.

Even late in 2015, Martin wasn’t playing with the knee bend and hip snap you expect given his overall athleticism. It may be physical or mental, but something is holding him back from the explosive movements that were on his early tape.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 299 lbs.

40 Time: 5.22s

Arm Length: 32 ½"

3-Cone: 7.57s

Short Shuttle: 4.72s

PRO COMPARISON: Corey Linsley, Green Bay Packers
FINAL GRADE: 5.99/9.00 (Round 3-4—Future Starter)