Damien Martinez — Miami’s 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 and the Seahawks seventh-round pick (No. 223) — is a legitimate “sleeper” to climb Seattle’s depth chart this fall. Per CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso, Martinez should not be slept on.
"Do not sleep on this seventh-round rookie. And, heck, he's currently buried on Seattle's running back depth chart behind Ken Walker, Zach Charbonnet, and probably even George Holani. Martinez has game at nearly 6-0 and 217 pounds with 4.51 speed. At Miami, his yards-after-contact-per-rush average increased every season, culminating in a super-hefty 3.94 average in 2024. On 516 carries for the Hurricanes, Martinez averaged an even 6.0 yards per tote and he plays with deceptive cutting juice for a stocky back. Seattle prioritized improving the offensive line this offseason, and if there are any injuries in front of him, Martinez can absolutely shoulder the normal workload in the Seahawks' new-look offense."CBS Sports Chris Trapasso
After transferring from Oregon State, Martinez gave Miami immediate juice in 2024 with 1,002 rushing yards, 10 TD and 6.3 YPC. He was efficient on early downs (7.23 YPC on 1st down), and he finished runs, posting 53 first downs on 159 carries.
Preseason usage is never definitive, but it’s been positive for Martinez. In Seattle’s preseason game against the Chiefs, Martinez logged 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. He also had two receptions for 14 yards. A week earlier, he was quieter vs. the Raiders (10 yards on six carries) but he did have two receptions for 15 yards.
The pass-catching aspect of the preseason has been a good sign for Martinez. Also, he hasn't put the ball on the ground, which always helps the case for a 7th-round draft pick trying to solidify himself on the roster. The Seahawks may be set at running back, but Martinez has earned himself a spot in that room.