(Editor's Note: While the start of the 2025 NFL Draft isn't until late April, it's never too early to profile some of the key participants. The staff of DallasCowboys.com intends to preview the landscape of the draft's top prospects, with an emphasis on possible Cowboys draft picks – from the first round to the last. Today's featured player is Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin.)
- Name: Nick Martin
- Position: Linebacker
- College: Oklahoma State
- Height/Weight: 5'11 ½ / 221
- Did You Know? Martin, a graduate of Pleasant Grove high school in Texarkana, exploded onto the scene in 2023 when he tallied 140 tackles, the most by an Oklahoma State player since 1984. It was also the most from a Big 12 Conference player since 2018 and locked him into being a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker.
Where He's Projected:
Because of a knee injury that sidelined him for most of the 2024 season and concerns about his size at the linebacker position, most projections have Martin being selected on Day 3.
How He Helps the Cowboys:
The Cowboys have beefed up their linebacker room this offseason with the additions of Kenneth Murray Jr. via trade and signing Jack Sanborn, plus already having young talent on the roster in the form of Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown.
If Martin's projection does end up being where he falls though, he's a high upside player that plays like a heat-seeking missile when he's fully healthy and his breakout year in 2023 puts it on tape. Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is a linebacker savant, and there's a lot of traits to like from Martin's game.
With Overshown set to miss some time in the 2025 season because of his knee injury, Martin would be a similar style of player in terms of his ability to fly to the ball and lay the lumber on ball carriers. His 4.53 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was the fifth fastest amongst all linebackers in this draft class, a good sign considering the injury he's returning from.
Final Thoughts:
While Martin's aggressive play style flies off the tape when he's making plays, there's also times where he overdoes things and misses tackles of big plays because of it. There'll need to be more control added to his game if he wants to take the next step in the NFL.
At the very least, Martin's abilities to close gaps quickly with speed and physically impose himself despite a smaller frame make him a great option on special teams especially with the new dynamic kickoff format. He hasn't played much special teams in college, but it's a chance for him to develop various areas of his game in the NFL.
