Two days after making their preliminary 53-man roster, inside linebacker Blake Martinez was launched by the New York Giants. In a corresponding transfer, the Giants acquired veteran offensive lineman Tyre Phillips off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens.
A crew captain in 2021, Martinez tore his ACL throughout the Giants’ third sport of the season. The Giants reworked his contract in March, which reportedly saved New York about $6 million in cap area getting into free company. Martinez had one yr remaining on a three-year, $30.75 million contract he signed going into the 2020 season.
Martinez, 28, was chosen by the Packers within the fourth spherical of the 2016 NFL Draft. A component-time starter as a rookie, Martinez blossomed right into a full-time starter getting into his second season in Inexperienced Bay. He led the NFL with 144 tackles throughout his second season. Martinez matched that tally in 2018 whereas additionally recording a career-high 5 sacks. He had 155 tackles throughout his remaining season in Inexperienced Bay whereas serving to the Packers attain the NFC Championship Sport.
Throughout his lone full season in New York, Martinez posted 151 tackles together with three sacks, an interception, two pressured fumbles and a fumble restoration. He had 23 tackles final season earlier than sustaining his season-ending damage.
Regardless of his earlier success, it seems that Martinez was unable to discover a place in first-year defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s protection. With Martinez out of the image, the Giants might look to rookie Micah McFadden to have an even bigger function this season. McFadden had a powerful preseason and was one in every of New York’s leaders with 13 tackles over the three exhibition video games.