Houston Texans: Nick Martin is Entering Make or Break Year
By Jair Lopez
Houston Texans are rebuilding their offensive line and how center Nick Martin fares in 2019 could determine his future with the team.
Houston Texans starting center Nick Martin is entering arguably his important season in his career with the Texans. It will not only impact his future with the team, but it will determine how much he earns in his next NFL contract. Martin is entering the fourth and final year in his rookie scale contract that he signed with the Texans.
He was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Texans former general manager Rick Smith after he traded up to the 50th overall pick to select him. Texans were confident in his football pedigree after coming from a successful football program in Notre Dame, and being the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys’ All-Pro offensive guard, Zach Martin.
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Martin hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations the Texans had when they moved up to draft him, however not all blame falls on him as he has dealt with injuries and the offensive line around him being rebuilt by Texans’ new general manager, Brian Gaine.
Last season Martin was the only starter returning for the 2018 season as Gaine brought in Senio Kelemete, Zach Fulton, Seantrel Henderson, Martinas Rankin in the offseason and Julien Davenport was promoted to the starting lineup. Texans continued to revamp the offensive line this offseason with the additions of Tytus Howard and Max Scharping through the draft.
Only a handful of players that were chosen under Smith’s tenure as the Texans’ general manager remain on the roster and Martin has to continue to grow in his role in his fourth year in the league to solidify his future with the team.
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Martin will be entering his second season healthy after dealing with ankle injuries that landed him on the injured reserve in his first two seasons with the Texans. He’ll also join the existing core that was built last season and he’ll have the opportunity to improve after Texans allowed a season-high 62 sacks in 2018.