Packers select inside linebacker Kamal Martin in fifth round

The Packers needed help at inside linebacker, and they’ve drafted Kamal Martin in the fifth round.

The Green Bay Packers have turned their attention to the defensive side of the ball in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, selecting Minnesota inside linebacker Kamal Martin.

Green Bay needed to add another inside linebacker at some point in the draft, even after signing Christian Kirksey in free agency. Mike Pettine’s defense now has some added depth and competition at the position with Martin joining Kirksey and Oren Burks.

Last season at Minnesota, Martin made 66 tackles, one sack, forced two fumbles, made two interceptions and defended one pass. ESPN’s Steve Muench wrote that “Martin has good height, a thick build and long arms”.

The Packers had to wait over three hours into the draft’s final day before they hit the clock for the first time. They had no fourth-round pick after trading it away in the move-up for Jordan Love in the first round.

Few people would’ve guessed that five rounds would go by without the Packers adding to their wide receiver room. They had the chance to do so on Day 1 but instead opted to go for their QB of the future in Love. A run on the top receivers early on Day 2 made it difficult, but they’ve had opportunities in the third and now fifth round to add more talent at the position.

General manager Brian Gutekunst has, so far, decided against doing so.

Green Bay still has five picks remaining, three of which are in the sixth round. It’s hard to land a difference-maker this late on, but the more picks, the better the possibility of hitting a home run.

If the Packers aren’t completely set at receiver, they’ll need to find another way of improving at the position. Thinking a sixth- or seventh-round pick will come in and contribute right away would be an unrealistic expectation.