49ers rookie LB has already impressed Fred Warner in limited time together at OTAs
49ers rookie LB has already impressed Fred Warner in limited time together at OTAs
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is one of the best in the league at what he does, and that's earned him All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors four times in his seven years since the team took him in the third round (No. 70 overall) of the 2018 NFL draft out of BYU.
His performance earned him a three-year, $63 million extension with San Francisco this offseason, making him the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history.
With that, it's not easy to impress Warner, but rookie linebacker Nick Martin has done just that in the early parts of the 49ers' offseason program.
"I've loved everything that Nick's been about since he's arrived," Warner said during a recent media availability. "I heard the whole story about how he said he had my jersey before coming on the team... He's come in and he's asked me every single question known to man, like 'Fred, how are you doing this? What are you doing after practice? What are you doing after lift?' [He] wants to be a part of those things, and [he's not] afraid to ask those questions.
"I've seen the athletic ability flash already on the field in the way that he closes space really quickly. He already has the great mindset of wanting to learn, so I'm really happy with where he's at."
Martin, 22, was a three-star recruit out of Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, before committing to Oklahoma State for the 2021 season. With the Cowboys, he appeared in 35 games over four years, recording 203 tackles (24 for a loss), seven sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered. He also earned All-Big 12 honors in 2023.
San Francisco selected him in the third round (no. 75 overall) of this year's draft to not only help make up for Dre Greenlaw's departure, but also to fill in for Warner as the team's defensive signal caller, if necessary.
Martin is projected to start his rookie year as a starter alongside Warner, and he's already started to prove himself to a player that he clearly grew up admiring on his journey to the pros. He'll have a chance to do that even more as the offseason program continues.
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