The Detroit Lions have had plenty of changes this offseason as they look to compete for a spot in the Super Bowl. The Lions lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching opportunities and Detroit had to navigate another change when center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement last week.
While those stories have dominated most of the headlines during OTAs, the Lions had other players who are trying to avoid becoming the team’s next big departure. That includes a young defender that has battled injuries during his career, but now finds himself on the chopping block after the team concluded its offseason workouts.
Former Third-Round Pick Brodric Martin on Chopping Block Following Lions OTAs
The interior of the defensive line has been a big discussion topic throughout the offseason. But one player that has been lost in the shuffle is Brodric Martin. Martin was a third-round pick by the Lions during the 2023 draft and came off a standout career at Western Kentucky with 62 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks in two seasons as a starter.
While the 6-foot-5, 330-pounder had plenty of upside, it hasn’t translated to the next level, mainly due to injury. Martin played in just three games during his rookie season and was limited to two games in 2024 after suffering a hyperextended knee in the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. When the Lions were battling for the top seed in the NFC, Martin was on the sideline, giving him motivation to get in better shape for this season.
“I took a step back, I got hurt and all that. I’m just gonna chalk it up to one more year of development,” Martin said via SI’s John Maakaron. “One more year of development is all I’m gonna say about that. I took my L and got hurt and all that, but it was still a year of development. Next year is gonna be better.”
Martin may have the right mindset but the Lions may have some concerns. Despite the possibility of Alim McNiel missing the start of next season after tearing his ACL in December, the Lions signed Roy Lopez in free agency and added Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round of April’s draft.
The additions signal that now is the time for Martin to show his improvement even as he enters training camp with the fourth string. Unless he can find a way to climb the depth chart, his time in Detroit appears to be entering its final weeks and could have him looking for a new job by the beginning of next season.