49ers clearly already regret underachieving offseason draft pick

The San Francisco 49ers had heightened expectations for rookie contributions in the 2025 NFL Draft following a turbulent offseason, though not all selections have met initial hopes. While early returns on safety Marques Sigle and top pick defensive end Mykel Williams have been positive, third-round linebacker Nick Martin has significantly underperformed.

Martin, chosen 75th overall from Oklahoma State, was anticipated to fill the void left by Dre Greenlaw alongside Fred Warner, especially with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's return. However, he has struggled throughout training camp and preseason, displaying inconsistency, missed tackles, and poor positioning. Third-year pro Dee Winters has instead emerged as Greenlaw's replacement, outperforming Martin and securing a role on the depth chart.

Martin's challenges were compounded by limited playing time due to injuries in his final college season, and he has been inactive for the first two regular-season games, with veterans preferred on the gameday roster. Despite the 49ers' history of patient linebacker development, the organization may regret the selection given other unmet team needs and Martin's failure to meet expectations early in his career.