Packers sign 2020 fifth-round pick Kamal Martin

The Packers have signed 2020 fifth-round draft choice Kamal Martin, announcing the news themselves Thursday afternoon.

Martin, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker from the University of Minnesota, was the 175th overall pick in this spring’s draft. Over four seasons with the Golden Gophers, Martin appeared in 40 games, recording 106 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, and four interceptions.

Due to a knee injury during his final season at Minnesota, Martin did not test at the NFL Combine and his pro day was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic. But he told Packers media earlier this spring he believes the injury won’t slow him down this season.

“I’m gonna be 100% fine. It’s not going to be a big deal at all,” he told reporters on a conference call after he was selected.

Even prior to his injury, however, scouts raised questions about his overall athleticism, and his tackling has been described as somewhat suspect at times, but as a former offensive player (several teams recruited him as a quarterback), his ball skills also drew some praise from evaluators.

As the 175th pick, Martin’s contract will be worth about $3.5 million over four years, including a signing bonus of a little more than $270,000.