By Sunday 
A Once-Promising Pick Now at a Crossroads
Brodric Martin came into Detroit as a Day 2 draft selection with the kind of physical traits that made scouts raise their eyebrows. Big frame. Long arms. A nose for stuffing the run. But as the Lions enter the 2025 season, Martin finds himself in a precarious position—one that looks a lot more like the edge of the roster than the heart of the D-line.
To put it bluntly, the uphill climb is real. And the clock is ticking.
Year 1: A Redshirt Season
Martin was always going to need time. Coming out of Western Kentucky, the rawness in his technique and footwork was no secret. His job wasn’t to start immediately; it was to develop. But after barely seeing the field in his rookie year—and then getting hit with a hyperextended knee injury in his second preseason—Martin essentially redshirted back-to-back seasons.
By the time he was healthy enough to suit up in 2024, the depth chart had shifted dramatically. And not in his favor.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s talk production:
- Games Played: 2
- Total Snaps: 25
- Tackles: 1
- PFF Defensive Grade: 37.9 (189th of 206 qualifying interior defenders)
Even with injuries ravaging Detroit’s front, Martin was a healthy inactive for the final four games of the regular season. The message was clear: he wasn’t in the plans.
The Lions Loaded Up—Again
If Martin’s status was cloudy before, it’s almost stormy now. Detroit spent the offseason bulking up the trenches:
- Tyleik Williams was a first-round pick.
- Roy Lopez was signed to a meaningful contract.
- DJ Reader remains a veteran anchor and mentor.
- Pat O’Connor played critical snaps last season.
That’s four players ahead of Martin before training camp even begins.
A Slimmed-Down Martin Aims to Change the Narrative
To his credit, Martin has put in the work—shedding over 14 pounds last year to improve his mobility and stamina. He’ll enter training camp with a leaner frame, a sharper focus, and hopefully, a chip on his shoulder the size of Ford Field.
If there’s one thing Dan Campbell’s Lions value, it’s grit. Martin’s window may be cracked, but it’s not closed. Yet.
Final Thought: Now or Never
There’s a reason Brad Holmes took a swing on Martin in the third round. But the NFL doesn’t wait forever. With Detroit loading up for a Super Bowl push, there’s little patience left for development projects. Training camp will be Martin’s proving ground.
He either claws his way back into the conversation—or watches it unfold from the sidelines.