2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jartavius Martin (DB – Illinois)

Let’s get ready for this week’s 2023 NFL Draft. We have you covered with all of our NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles for this year’s class. Here’s a look at Jartavius Martin.

Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jartavius Martin (DB – Illinois)

Jartavius Martin (DB – Illinois)

5’11” – 194 lbs. – 4.46

Background:

Has been a significant contributor since 2018, when he posted 44 tackles and three interceptions over 493 snaps. Role was slightly more limited in each of the following two years (384 snaps and 245), but still managed 23 and 38 tackles in those seasons, respectively. Stepped into a starting role in 2021 and posted 56 tackles, one interception, and six breakups. Enjoyed his best season in 2022 (64 tackles, three interceptions, and eleven breakups.)

Positives:

Experienced player who totaled over 2,500 snaps in school, showing a favorable developmental trajectory while primarily playing in the slot but also lining up as a high safety fairly regularly. Plays high safety with a physical but relatively conservative temperament well-suited to the position, rarely getting lured away by misdirection. Explosive mover who has the raw speed to get out to the sideline and provide help in high zones, which he was frequently asked to do in school. Has fluid hips and clean overall footwork, balance, and technique when working in coverage. Uses his hands well to feel routes developing. As a slot defender, shows solid route-recognition skills and makes clean transitions to drive on spots. Aggressively contests the catch point, breaking up seventeen passes and intercepting another four over the past two seasons. Has impressive recovery burst to get back in-phase. Excellent leaper. Willing to come down and stick his nose in as a run defender. Has some pop on contact to help set the tone defensively. Has also been a highly reliable tackler over the past two seasons, with just seven total missed tackles over that span.

Negatives:

Slightly over-aged and will be a 23-year-old rookie. Size is just adequate for a pro safety. Wasn’t credited with many missed tackles in recent years, but does lapse into throwing his body around at times rather than engaging with form. Length was also on the lower end for safeties at the Combine. Can arrive slightly early when working in man coverage; didn’t get flagged much in school, but will have to be more careful at the next level. Game-to-game effectiveness in coverage was inconsistent, getting picked on in several contests last year.

Summary:

A highly explosive athlete who handled some different responsibilities for the Illini, and who could conceivably work either in the slot or as a high safety at the next level, something which could help him hear his name called on the second day of the draft, especially after turning in an excellent pre-draft workout at the Combine.

Projection: Round 2-3