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Why did Damien Martinez drop in the draft?

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gogeta4 said:
He actually ran a good 40.

What did him in is he isnt known as a pass catcher.

That 4th rd grouping is a list of whos who of guys hes better than. But he is a bell cow back, and scheme fit wise guys may have looked for pass catchers out the backfield or just guys they liked. See la rams drafting a kid because the gm went to auburn.

I personally think he ahould of went between 4th an 5th i thibk only one rb maybe went in the third

The position is devalued and this years rb crop was deep.

The dolphins got ollie gordon in the 6th.bin mid 2000s he doesnt make it out the third rd
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Regarding Jarquez Hunter, there was definitely an Auburn connection, but Hunter is going to have a productive NFL career. I like him better than Martinez. Bookmark my quote.
 
bshaw28 said:
I look at it different - IMO he showed up to his audition in shape - 226 Senior Bowl & 217 Combine.

But it didn't match his 230 lb. playing weight.

And his production power, tackle breaking were absolutely stand out traits - combined with good athleticism (although it was at 217)

4 Miami RB's have ever had 1,000 yds - 6+ YPC - 10+ TD's in a single season:

2024 Damien Martinez
2014 Duke Johnson
2002 Willis McGahee
1997 Edgerrin James

This was a special talent....and he was only a 7th RD draft pick. It's confusing.
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He was auditioning for the NFL via his 2024 season at Miami.

He showed up as a "potato" and we all saw how chit his burst was early on.

The NFL doesn't allow you to get pulled down the field by an OL, just pushed.

He had academic "issues" + a DUI.

If you lack elite anything and already have baggage and have proven you're lazy when you're on your own that's not a great sign.
 
bobbydigius said:
NFL GMs didnt think as highly of him as Miami fans did, myself included. Its just another reality check to how we overrate our guys. Everyone but Cam and Arroyo was basically not looked at as fondly by the league.
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It may be this simple. Here's Damien Martinez all conference voting

2022 - 1st team Pac-12
2023 - 1st team Pac-12
2024 - 10th in voting for All ACC RB's

No idea how anyone feels there were 9 better RB's in the ACC last year - but maybe this was a sign
 
Ironmanfootball said:
He was auditioning for the NFL via his 2024 season at Miami.

He showed up as a "potato" and we all saw how chit his burst was early on.

The NFL doesn't allow you to get pulled down the field by an OL, just pushed.

He had academic "issues" + a DUI.

If you lack elite anything and already have baggage and have proven you're lazy when you're on your own that's not a great sign.
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This off field stuff makes more sense to me. He weighed 240+ at Oregon St, so he probably struggled with weight there too. With the DUI & NIL and the way he left, the OSU coaches may not have said the best things about him.

If Martinez wasn't good in his interviews, all these factors may have caused teams to back off.

But let's not act like Martinez wasn't elite at anything. He was an elite runner - which is by far the most important thing for a RB. The draft has a way of making people forget running the ball is like 80% of the job description, ha.
 
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bshaw28 said:
It may be this simple. Here's Damien Martinez all conference voting

2022 - 1st team Pac-12
2023 - 1st team Pac-12
2024 - 10th in voting for All ACC RB's

No idea how anyone feels there were 9 better RB's in the ACC last year - but maybe this was a sign
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This was also a loaded RB class overall as well.
 
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