49ers select Nick Martin-LB-Oklahoma State with the 75th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
The NFL is going that way. Lots of 220 lbs. - 230 lbs. LB's now. The game is more spread out now like Steve Young always says. More spacing. The ability to run and track things down and get outside and catch guys from behind is more important. Of course even coverage too like a RB. The day of the 250 lb. LB is pretty much over in the NFL. Sure you can find some. But smaller guys who can run are more valued now. I don't think he needs to change a thing. Although I would be a little concerned about running right directly at him. How will he hold up at the point of attack? I think he has all the other stuff.

Id argue the NFL was going that way or at least it is teetering. Spread offense, wide zone, meant getting linebackers moving horizontally and testing coverage skills. You saw teams going with lighter boxes, playing nickel more. And last year, it was full shell, keep everything in front and make the offense chunk their way down the field.

One major weakness of the shell defense is exposure in the run game. McVay changed his philosophy last year to adapt. Much more gap and power. More up the middle. More pistol formation. See the success of Eagles, Ravens, Lions. Interior lineman got paid this offseason. The weights of the 4 linebackers drafted ahead of Nick Marin are 243, 235, 242, 235. Every LB drafted before round 5 was 229+ pounds besides Martin.

Look at some of the NFLs best defenses like Broncos, Eagles, Ravens and you'll see thumpers. Even the 4-3 teams are running a heavy SAM LB like Chiefs 250 pound Chenal. The big LB is not dead.

I think Deion Jones(6 ft, 222) is the best comp for Martin if he reaches his ceiling. Before guys like Roquan and Fred took over the NFL, Deion Jones was regarded as one of the best--if not the best--LBs in the NFL. That dude was crazy good when Shanny was in Atlanta.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
I'm talking about players, not the team overall. We can talk about the players that were properly valued that have played well….how about the players that were overall considered reaches each draft? Who outplayed their "reach" value?

Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster were both top 15 after the combine and CMC was 20th. LOTS of bad data out there :)

Originally posted by scooterhd:
Where are you getting these numbers from? Just at a glance West, Stout, and Rourke should be higher.

I'm going to guess it's an AI list :)

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
With Greenlaw gone, really hoping Martin comes in and can make an immediate impact playing with Warner and perhaps Winters. Didn't see Martin play at Oklahoma State but like what I've read about him and in seeing some of his highlights. Seems like he's a good tackler and track down guys going sideline to sideline. Can also cover guys with his speed and athleticism. Am curious about his weight, 221 lbs, and if he can put on some more weight + strength to deal with blocks and just help with the every-game pounding as an NFL LB.

The solution for Martin taking on blockers is named Williams, Collins, West, and Bosa. They don't want him or Fred or Dee taking on blockers, they want them running to the ball.

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
Yeah, for 5'11", I guess so. Plus, he's just entering the league at age 22...with the team's strength & conditioning coaches, he'll add more weight & strength.

For some reason, thought Warner was heavier than that - thought he was closer to 235-240.

5'11.5" according to nfl.com

Warner was 236 at the combine, but he's lost weight for more speed. He said a couple years ago that he had bulked up for the number for the combine.

Originally posted by Scoots:
5'11.5" according to nfl.com

Warner was 236 at the combine, but he's lost weight for more speed. He said a couple years ago that he had bulked up for the number for the combine.

Source? I've never heard this before. He's visibly bigger now than he was years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if he's around or in the 240s. He came out college with a lot of room to add mass.

I don't want to say he's maxed out because he's so young, but Nick Martin's frame is pretty filled out. He's very lean and jacked. This isn't like, for example, Dee Winters who came out of college underdeveloped and fat.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
The NFL is going that way. Lots of 220 lbs. - 230 lbs. LB's now. The game is more spread out now like Steve Young always says. More spacing. The ability to run and track things down and get outside and catch guys from behind is more important. Of course even coverage too like a RB. The day of the 250 lb. LB is pretty much over in the NFL. Sure you can find some. But smaller guys who can run are more valued now. I don't think he needs to change a thing. Although I would be a little concerned about running right directly at him. How will he hold up at the point of attack? I think he has all the other stuff.

What's funny is that I remember when LT Dan Audick weighed in under 240lbs at the end of one year, then a decade later Levon Kirkland was playing LB at as much as 300lbs. Bill Walsh fined Bubba Paris every time he was 300lbs. Also, corners used to be smaller and safeties bigger, and I remember when a "big" WR weighed 200 lbs.

Are there any OL in the NFL under 290lbs this year?

Originally posted by scooterhd:
Id argue the NFL was going that way or at least it is teetering. Spread offense, wide zone, meant getting linebackers moving horizontally and testing coverage skills. You saw teams going with lighter boxes, playing nickel more. And last year, it was full shell, keep everything in front and make the offense chunk their way down the field.

One major weakness of the shell defense is exposure in the run game. McVay changed his philosophy last year to adapt. Much more gap and power. More up the middle. More pistol formation. See the success of Eagles, Ravens, Lions. Interior lineman got paid this offseason. The weights of the 4 linebackers drafted ahead of Nick Marin are 243, 235, 242, 235. Every LB drafted before round 5 was 229+ pounds besides Martin.

Look at some of the NFLs best defenses like Broncos, Eagles, Ravens and you'll see thumpers. Even the 4-3 teams are running a heavy SAM LB like Chiefs 250 pound Chenal. The big LB is not dead.

When Harbaugh came to the 49ers they went big on offense and small on defense and caught the NFL unprepared to some extent. Everything comes and goes in the NFL where the dominant offensive scheme shapes more and more team's defensive schemes then offenses change to take advantage of those defenses then the defenses change to combat the dominant offense and around we go :)

Originally posted by Heroism:
Source? I've never heard this before. He's visibly bigger now than he was years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if he's around or in the 240s. He came out college with a lot of room to add mass.

I don't want to say he's maxed out because he's so young, but Nick Martin's frame is pretty filled out. He's very lean and jacked. This isn't like, for example, Dee Winters who came out of college underdeveloped and fat.

Just my memory from an interview after his 2nd year. I think he said he was playing "around 230" at the time. It might have been Matt Maiocco.

Originally posted by Heroism:
Source? I've never heard this before. He's visibly bigger now than he was years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if he's around or in the 240s. He came out college with a lot of room to add mass.

I don't want to say he's maxed out because he's so young, but Nick Martin's frame is pretty filled out. He's very lean and jacked. This isn't like, for example, Dee Winters who came out of college underdeveloped and fat.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by Heroism:
Source? I've never heard this before. He's visibly bigger now than he was years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if he's around or in the 240s. He came out college with a lot of room to add mass.

I don't want to say he's maxed out because he's so young, but Nick Martin's frame is pretty filled out. He's very lean and jacked. This isn't like, for example, Dee Winters who came out of college underdeveloped and fat.

Winters has a huge opportunity waiting right there for him this season. Let's see if he can capitalize. Same for Martin.

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by Heroism:
Source? I've never heard this before. He's visibly bigger now than he was years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if he's around or in the 240s. He came out college with a lot of room to add mass.

I don't want to say he's maxed out because he's so young, but Nick Martin's frame is pretty filled out. He's very lean and jacked. This isn't like, for example, Dee Winters who came out of college underdeveloped and fat.

Just my memory from an interview after his 2nd year. I think he said he was playing "around 230" at the time. It might have been Matt Maiocco.

230 is what 49ers.com has him listed as.

https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/

Originally posted by GorefullBore:
230 is what 49ers.com has him listed as.

https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/

These numbers aren't reliable*. Those heights and weights are usually pulled by college interns or corporate normies from Google searches whenever they update the website or create new player profiles. I never look at those pages, but they used to be filled a ton of errors.

Remember the Solomon Thomas drama? Everyone was losing their mind when the 49ers website had him listed at 256. The comms department had to notify the local media that the number was wrong.


Fred was never that light. If a report by Matt Maiocco like that existed, it would've 100% been posted in the Fred thread. Fake news.

Originally posted by scooterhd:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
The NFL is going that way. Lots of 220 lbs. - 230 lbs. LB's now. The game is more spread out now like Steve Young always says. More spacing. The ability to run and track things down and get outside and catch guys from behind is more important. Of course even coverage too like a RB. The day of the 250 lb. LB is pretty much over in the NFL. Sure you can find some. But smaller guys who can run are more valued now. I don't think he needs to change a thing. Although I would be a little concerned about running right directly at him. How will he hold up at the point of attack? I think he has all the other stuff.

Id argue the NFL was going that way or at least it is teetering. Spread offense, wide zone, meant getting linebackers moving horizontally and testing coverage skills. You saw teams going with lighter boxes, playing nickel more. And last year, it was full shell, keep everything in front and make the offense chunk their way down the field.

One major weakness of the shell defense is exposure in the run game. McVay changed his philosophy last year to adapt. Much more gap and power. More up the middle. More pistol formation. See the success of Eagles, Ravens, Lions. Interior lineman got paid this offseason. The weights of the 4 linebackers drafted ahead of Nick Marin are 243, 235, 242, 235. Every LB drafted before round 5 was 229+ pounds besides Martin.

Look at some of the NFLs best defenses like Broncos, Eagles, Ravens and you'll see thumpers. Even the 4-3 teams are running a heavy SAM LB like Chiefs 250 pound Chenal. The big LB is not dead.

On the sidelines speed and quickness is the emphasis in the modern day NFL. The days of Brian Urlacher 6'4" 260 lbs. is kind of done. He could run though at 4.57. As can Chenal at 4.53. So if you can move maybe so. But a big middle thumper is less of a thing than it used to be. You still see it some in the middle. Less on the edge. Can they run? Than yes they can still play.