The San Francisco 49ers have had a lot of draft disappointments in recent years, but the biggest one from 2025 may be linebacker Nick Martin.
Taken in the third round out of Oklahoma State, Martin was initially thought to be Dre Greenlaw's replacement as Fred Warner's running mate. After a brutal preseason, however, it quickly became clear he was not ready for the role.
Things didn't get much better in the regular season. He wasn’t even active for the team’s first few games, and he was only given a larger snap share when the 49ers were massacred by injuries.
49ers already have clear role in mind for Nick Martin
Now a sophomore, he is entering the new season largely overshadowed by other, more talented linebackers. Warner is healthy, and the team brought back Dre Greenlaw to solidify the position.
Tatum Bethune was solid last year, as was Garret Wallow, and rookie Jaden Dugger is the San Francisco defense's shiny new toy. Dugger will likely be the one who gets the call to spell either of the two first-stringers.
Maybe that’s a good thing for Martin. The lack of pressure could allow him to fly under the radar. Even if he doesn't get a ton of playing time on defense this year, he seems to be carving out a niche role for himself on special teams.
Martin forced a fumble in kick coverage during San Francisco’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which is the exact sort of play that stands out in such a contest.
Nick Martin's projected role is certainly better than nothing
While special teams is not all that glamorous, it matters. The 49ers were much improved in that arena last year. It's one of the reasons why they were able to win 12 games despite their massive injury count.
With bumps and bruises already mounting this preseason, San Francisco will likely be looking to maintain the advantage. Special teams is often overlooked by fans and coaches alike. If the red and gold can consistently win in that department, they could overachieve yet again in 2026.
Martin's new role certainly wasn't what he was drafted for, but any value the 49ers can get out of him can be viewed as a win.
The 23-year-old is dealing with a hamstring issue, but assuming he recovers quickly, look for him to be a difference-maker on special teams, where the Niners are already looking lethal early on.
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