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Packers: Four predictions for who will re-sign in 2020

By Freddie Boston

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after stopping the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after stopping the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 25: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled with the ball by Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 25: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled with the ball by Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

1. Blake Martinez

Outside of signing Kenny Clark to a long-term deal, Blake Martinez might be the number one priority for the Packers. But as Clark won’t become a free agent until 2021, working out a deal with Martinez first might be important.

Martinez’s all-round solid play on the field often goes unnoticed, but he plays an important role at inside linebacker. Martinez is a tackle machine, with a combined 288 tackles over the past two seasons. But he did also make five sacks last year and has two career interceptions in three seasons.

The Packers haven’t found it easy to find talent at inside linebacker, but Martinez has been the exception. And if he becomes a free agent next offseason, there will be plenty of interest around the league.

Martinez is a reliable starter, rarely misses game (he has only missed three games in three seasons, all of which were in his rookie year), and can make a difference for just about any team.

Martinez was on the field for an incredible 98.59 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season, according to Pro Football Reference. Only Tramon Williams played more snaps (99.53 percent). Martinez also played 15.29 percent of the Packers’ special teams snaps.

Signing Martinez and Clark to long-term deals should be the top priority for Brian Gutekunst before he considers signing other free agents.

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