The Green Bay Packers will have to determine whether they want to pay up to keep Blake Martinez in the middle of Mike Pettine’s defense or begin the rebuilding process at inside linebacker this offseason.
Martinez, a fourth-round pick, has produced 140 or more tackles in three straight seasons and has undoubtedly out-produced his draft slot, but his production could lead to a big payday on the open market, and the Packers need to upgrade at linebacker if they truly want to take a step and become an elite defense.
Martinez will be an unrestricted free agent when his four-year rookie contract expires in March.
Here’s the case for and against re-signing Martinez:
Case for
Martinez fits the Packers’ mold for a player they’d want to re-sign. He’s young (26) and productive (512 tackles, 10 sacks), and he started all 50 games (playoffs included) over the last three seasons. The Stanford product called the plays for the defense and directed all the action in the front seven. Coaches and teammates viewed him as a developing leader in the locker room and he’s well-versed in Mike Pettine’s defensive scheme. His job was made drastically more difficult by Pettine’s schematic decisions and the drop-off in play from the Packers defensive line in 2019, especially against the run. He was forced to operate as more of a safety valve at the second level than as an attacking player but still finished with 37 run stops, fourth-most among starting inside linebackers. Since 2016, only Martinez and Seahawks All-Pro Bobby Wagner produced at least 500 tackles and 10.0 sacks. Among linebackers, he ranked ninth in tackles for losses (29) and 15th in approximate value over the last four seasons. His pass-rushing ability is underrated and was underused by Pettine in 2019 (only 28 blitzes, had over 80 in both 2017 and 2018). Not only has he started every game the last three years, but he’s been on the field for 98 percent of the defense’s total snaps, occasionally playing through injury. Availability is a huge asset, and bringing him back would ensure there’s a reliable player at linebacker to build it around. Do the Packers really want to move on and completely start over at a difficult position on the defense? Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
Case against
Settling for mediocrity stunts improvement, and the Packers must improve at linebacker. The last three seasons exposed Martinez as an average run defender who lacks sideline to sideline athleticism and offers little in coverage, making him an awkward fit in the modern game and a difficult fit within Mike Pettine’s stop-the-pass defensive philosophy. His production was hollow at times and lacking the tangible impact suggested by the volume numbers. He had only five tackles for losses and a gift-wrapped interception in 2019. The Packers defense suffered from his late reactions and point-of-attack physicality, and his lack of quickness and spatial awareness in zone coverage made it difficult to cover the middle of the field. GM Brian Gutekunst admitted speed is a necessity at the position now, and Martinez doesn’t have it. According to Sports Info Solutions, Martinez’s average depth of tackle was 4.7 yards, he allowed 81.4 percent of his passes to be completed into his coverage and he missed 17 tackles. He was on the field for almost 600 passing snaps and had just one pass breakup. What will be his price tag on the open market? His tackle production will likely inflate his value to the 31 other teams, especially with rising prices at inside linebacker in free agency in recent years.