Memphis Tigers linebacker Chandler Martin is rising up draft boards as more analysts dive into the tape. Despite being left out of the NFL Combine, there’s a sense that Martin could go earlier in the 2025 NFL Draft than many expect.
Here, we dive into the tape to give our thoughts on the CSN First-Team All-American. Our Chandler Martin scouting report looks at his floor, ceiling, and potential impact in the NFL.
Chandler Martin Scouting Report
Size: 5’11 1/2″, 233 pounds (Shrine Bowl verified)
Key Stat: Finished second nationally with 68 run stops in 2024 and tied for first among off-ball linebackers with 34 pressures.
Projected Role: Rotational, coverage-first weakside linebacker
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Strengths:
- Ability to mirror in man coverage, while maintaining appropriate depth in zone coverage drops
- First-step athleticism and explosion are excellent for the position.
- Excellent college production, ranking among the best linebackers in the country as a run-stopper, in coverage, and as a pass-rusher.
- Instinctual player, lives around the ball. 80 tackling opportunities in 305 run snaps. Fifth-nationally in run stop percentage.
- Good blitzer, uses speed around edge and quickness to shoot gaps.
- Special teams experience (Kick coverage, punt return)
Areas to Improve:
- Lacks elite size and strength profile
- Can be overly aggressive and overpursue in the run game
- Inconsistent tackler. Often in the correct position but failed to convert. Will need to improve tackling technique, especially at his size, in the NFL
Floor: Bottom of the roster special-teamer
Ceiling: Three-down starting weakside linebacker
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Chandler Martin NFL Draft Outlook
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more polarizing linebacker prospect in this year’s NFL Draft.
Some analysts view Martin as a potential Day 2 linebacker and were particularly impressed with his coverage abilities and athleticism at the Shrine Bowl. I’ve seen others leave him out of their top 250 or even top 350 lists.
Our James Fragoza has him between those extremes, listing him at 225th on his Top 300.
Martin’s projections are all over the place, but why?
I think it has to do with the volatility of his profile. Watch a few highlight packages and you’ll come away thinking Martin’s a surefire early-round pick. Dig into the down-to-down tape and you’ll come away with a more tempered opinion.
He has a tendency to overpursue and he missed plenty of tackles in his college career. The East Tennessee State transfer is also undersized and despite thriving in pass coverage at the Shrine Bowl, his overall numbers against the pass aren’t great.
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But back to those highlights. Martin put up three-straight seasons of 94+ tackles, and had seven sacks and four fumble recoveries as a senior. He returned an interception for a touchdown in 2023 and had plenty of highlight-reel tackles for loss and pass breakups.
So, yes; the potential is there. The question is whether he can hone his skills and become a more consistent player. Big hits are great, but not if they often lead to missed tackles. Similarly, teams love aggressive linebackers, but if he’s able to be manipulated by RPOs, play action, and the quarterback’s eyes, he’ll be a liability in coverage.
But, I keep coming back to that potential. All it takes is for one NFL defensive coordinator to fall in love with Martin for the Memphis product to hear his name substantially earlier than most think.
He didn’t make the NFL Combine list, but a strong Pro Day should boost his stock and put him into the early Day 3 range. This linebacker class doesn’t have a consensus, so he could go far earlier than expected.
Bottom Line:
The highs are extremely high for Memphis LB Chandler Martin, but the lows might scare some teams. Still, that potential is too much to ignore. I see a team bringing him in and easing him into the defense, utilizing his special teams experience as a way to keep him on the roster and off the practice squad while he develops into a three-down starter.
It’ll be hard to find a higher-upside developmental pick and I think a team falls in love with him in the pre-draft prospect, taking him early on Day 3.
Draft Projection: Round 4-Round 6
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