Blake Martinez Reportedly Expected to Leave Packers in Free Agency
By Jackson Thompson
Blake Martinez has started all 16 games at middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers the last three years, but his run with the team that drafted him could be coming to an end.
Martinez is set to become a free agent this year, and an exploding linebackers market might just price the 26-year-old Stanford grad out of Green Bay's offseason plans. According to NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Martinez is expected to leave the Packers in free agency.
Blake Martinez on what will likely be his last game on Green Bay. Respect for the time, effort and work he’s put in over the years. pic.twitter.com/8uXhHr5Giu
— GBP Daily (@GBPdaily) January 20, 2020
The record contracts signed by C.J. Mosley and Bobby Wagner in recent years have set the market price for linebackers higher than ever. Martinez, as one of the league's most promising at the position, will likely seek a lucrative deal of his own.
If so, then his last game as a Packer will have been the recent NFC Championship loss to the 49ers, which will be disappointing considering how the team went out.
If Garafolo is right and Martinez looks to go elsewhere, possible landing spots include the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens -- teams that all need linebacker help and have the cap space to give Martinez big money.