Bears Day 2 Draft Prospects: Inside Linebacker

Blake Martinez, Stanford (6’2 | 237 | 4.62) – Two year starter who improved significantly in his second season for the Cardinal being awarded 3rd-team AP, 2nd team USA Today, and first team all Pac 12. Martinez finished last season with 141 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and two interceptions as a senior.

Martinez has become a solid run stopper with the ability to avoid blockers, diagnose plays, attack the ball-carriers, maintain zone responsibilities in coverage and potentially hold his own as an NFL linebacker. Martinez can do it all inside as a 3-4 ILB and made significant improvements over the last two seasons.

He is one of those players who is always around the ball and seems to be in the right place when needed. Martinez may last until the 3rd or even 4th round in the draft this year, but has the physical ability and mental skills to be a starting caliber ILB. He has been a team captain for Stanford and his skills caught up to his leadership ability last season.

Martinez needs to bulk up, but has above-average speed for an inside backer, the intelligence to recognize offense schemes and call the defensive plays, and the range to be a sideline-to-sideline run stopper and cover backs and tight ends when needed. Martinez is a late riser in the draft, but some team is going to get a steal late on day two or early on day three. He has starter potential, but in the short term can back up Danny Trevathan while being a special team ace.

Joe Schobert, Wisconsin (6’1 | 244 | 4.67) – I already covered Schobert in my edge rusher portion, but think he could play either inside or outside in the Bears scheme while excelling as a special teams ace. Schobert is one of my favorite linebacker prospects in this year’s draft and you can read my full breakdown on Schobert here:

https://beargoggleson.com/2016/04/09/bears-day-2-draft-prospects-edge-rushers/4/