Chicago Bears NFL Draft: Don’t ignore these late-round prospects
By Ryan Heckman
Linebacker Kamal Martin, Minnesota
Losing both Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis to free agency means the Bears are going to have to add more depth at inside linebacker, should either Roquan Smith or Danny Trevathan go down to injury.
If they did so in the later rounds, Kamal Martin might be an ideal pick. He lined up at various spots for the Gophers last year, but at the NFL level he likely projects more as an inside backer due to his size and lack of speed and bend around the edge.
Like a lot of later round prospects, Martin’s athleticism might not jump off the tape, but what does is his motor. This kid goes nonstop at 100 miles an hour. Once he makes a decision to commit, he’s there.
light. Hot. 10 Chicago athletes who looked odd in different uniforms
Martin will absolutely bury you if he has a straight-on shot, too. He’s real smart about picking his gaps in the box and going after the ball carrier.
One of the areas he will have to improve upon is in passing situations. Martin is a liability in terms of his coverage skills, and if he wants to be an every-down linebacker, that’s the portion of the game which he’ll need to sharpen the most.
Last year at Minnesota, Martin totaled 66 tackles including 2.5 for a loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.