Brodric Martin had to change his draft plans when the Lions called

Brodric Martin was a fairly surprising third-round pick by the Detroit Lions, and perhaps no one was more surprised than he was. 

The Detroit Lions appeared to be done on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Then, as those who cover the team would come to be glad about, they traded a few Day 3 picks to move up to No. 96 overall in the third round and take Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin.

Martin was not expected to be a Day 2 pick. Speaking at rookie minicamp this weekend, he said he was preparing to extend his draft party at a Tuscaloosa hotel to Day 3 when Lions head coach Dan Campbell called.

Here’s what Martin said, via Ben Raven of MLive:

"I knew I was going to get drafted. Just was thinking a little later than what I did,” Martin said. “But it was crazy because I was in the hotel that I was gonna have my draft party. And I was on the sixth floor, up there, just grabbing something to eat. And then I got the call from coach Campbell, and I’m just like (looks at phone) … and he said, ‘Do you want to be a Lion?’ And I said, ‘yeah’ (looks at phone again). I ran down six flights of stairs just to get down to the TV and to my momma. She was down there setting up for the party for the next day."

Martin said the Lions called three picks before taking him, which allowed time to catch the pick announced on television. But he had to run down six flights of stairs to rell his mom Karen.

Brodric Martin could immediately be important piece of the Lions defensive line

Martin is big (6-foot-5, 330 pounds), and big might not be a big enough word, with a large wingspan and underrappreciated athleticism. The Lions needed help on the interior defensive line, and Martin has a good chance to immediately be part of a rotation at nose tackle with Isaiah Buggs.

Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network tabbed Martin as one of his best under the radar scheme fits from the 2023 NFL Draft.

"IDL Brodric Martin (Lions)A big man that plays with nasty intentions, he’ll clog up gaps in the run and provide a push in the passing game—he has gone extremely underrated throughout the process. I love the fit of Martin’s game inside Dan Campbell’s group."

Martin called it “surreal” to be playing in the NFL, and that he’s “blessed’ to be living out the dream he has had since he was five years old. He also told the media he’s been studying some of the best defensive tackles in the league, with an eye on contributing immediately. The opportunity should be there for him.