San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players With a Last Chance in 2016

2 of 6

Aug 17, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers center Marcus Martin (66) against the Denver Broncos in the inaugural football game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Marcus Martin-Interior Offensive Lineman

Marcus Martin has largely failed to impress as a young 49er. Drafted in the third round out of the University of Southern California in 2014, Martin was seen as a player capable of playing both center and guard for the team.

Martin was just 20 years old when the 49ers selected him. Nearly every scouting report on Martin noted his age, but many felt that his NFL-coached development could build him into a high-quality starting offensive lineman.

Starting center Daniel Kilgore lost significant time due to injury and Martin stepped in as a rookie. Unfortunately, Martin did not arrive with the same performance that Kilgore had shown consistently as the anchor of the offensive line.

The biggest issue for Martin is his functional strength. The 49ers don’t need him to be Larry Allen but they do need him to be strong at the point of attack. That necessity is exponentially compounded in a division that holds the Los Angeles Rams’ and Seattle Seahawks’ defensive lines.

The 49ers needed Martin to step up in 2015 and he didn’t improve on his rookie season. Fans routinely saw him overmatched and out-muscled by defensive lineman. Not only are fans tired of seeing Martin get bullied at the line of scrimmage but local beat writers couldn’t understand the commitment to starting him either.

Marcus Martin, still the center for reasons unknown, gives up sack to Blaine Gabbert on 49ers first snap after halftime
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) December 6, 2015

Before October was even over, Martin had already accumulated a Pro Football Focus grade much lower than guard Jordan Devey and fans were screaming for Devey’s head.

On the other side, #Rams DT Aaron Donald (+24.1) has a huge mismatch vs. Jordan Devey (-13.6) and Marcus Martin (-23.4). #49ers
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) October 30, 2015

While Martin is still young, and his body could develop greatly over the next year or two, the NFL is a business of now and the 49ers can’t wait much longer for Martin to reach their expectations. Martin may continue to grow into an athletic frame and he’ll be given 2016 to do so.

Unfortunately, because of the expectations for Martin coming out of college, his leash with the 49ers may be shorter than others. They simply don’t have time to wait. And he may not be given another opportunity after 2016.

Next: Final Transition